A “substantially unredacted” version of a grand jury report detailing allegations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the cover-up of that abuse by local Catholic Church leaders was released Tuesday at the request of the prosecutor. Maryland General Anthony G. Brown.
The announcement comes more than a month after a judge ordered its release, which was expected to reveal all but three names blacked out in the original report released in April.
"The court's order allows my office to continue lifting the veil of secrecy on decades of horrific abuse suffered by survivors," Brown said in August.
The new report is available for review on the Maryland Attorney General's website.
Experts noted that a first reading of the new report contains fewer redactions, while seven names (two abusers and five members of the clergy) remain blacked out.
In Tuesday's announcement, Brown said some names in the report remain redacted while those people appeal the court's August ruling to reveal their identities. Appeals are ongoing, Brown said.
"Depending on the outcome of those appeals, the Bureau may release an additional version of the report later," Brown told reporters.
The original 463-page report details "a long history of widespread abuse and systemic cover-up by clergy," Brown said in advance. He also identified nearly 160 former and current priests as well as other church members accused of sexually abusing more than 600 children over eight decades.
In 2019, the Archdiocese of Baltimore released the names of priests accused of sexual abuse, but revealed few details despite an extensive investigation. Authorities then compiled a report titled "Clergy Abuse in Maryland."
A first report released in April protected the identities of 10 alleged abusers who had not been publicly accused of child abuse, Brown said. The names of five high-ranking Archdiocese of Baltimore officials were also removed.
According to Brown, the five officials had "extensive involvement" in the Archdiocese's handling of the abuse.
