Survivor of Catholic Church Sex Ring in Baltimore Denounces Priests' Abuse Cover-up Amid New Claims

In the wake of disturbing new revelations, a survivor of the Catholic Church sex ring in Baltimore has come forward to condemn the Archdiocese for concealing decades of abuse by priests. The survivor, Teresa Lancaster, is joined by the family of another victim, Francis X Gallagher Jr., who tragically lost his life to a fatal overdose in August 2022 at the age of 62. Gallagher's children, Flannery and Liam, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Baltimore, claiming that the abuse their father endured at the hands of a reverend, along with mishandling his allegations, contributed to his untimely demise.

Francis X Gallagher Jr.'s ordeal began in 1972 after the death of his father, Francis X Gallagher Sr. At just 14 years old, he started working as a night receptionist at St. Mary's Seminary, where he became a victim of alleged molestation by Reverend Mark Haight. His brave attempts to bring Haight's actions to light were met with threats from the archdiocese, according to the lawsuit.

Teresa Lancaster, now 69, shares a parallel story of abuse within the church. She was coerced into what she calls the "sex ring" during her time at Archbishop Keough High School in Maryland during the late 1960s to early 1970s. She sought help from a counselor at the school, Father Joseph Maskell, regarding family issues, only to experience further abuse. Maskell was accused of abusing multiple girls at the high school but escaped criminal charges and denied all allegations until his death in 2001.

Lancaster expresses deep concern about the denial, cover-up, and the recently exposed Attorney General report, which revealed that the church had knowledge of abuse cases for many years. The report disclosed 156 alleged sex abusers within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who victimized over 600 children for more than six decades. Lancaster stresses that it is crucial for the public to be aware of the destructive consequences of such cover-ups on families.

The lawsuit against the Archdiocese and its clergy members seeks accountability for the alleged abuses suffered by Francis X Gallagher Jr. and others. Lancaster acknowledges that the Catholic Church is not the only institution with instances of sex abuse but points out that it had a long history of covering up such crimes. Many of the accused abusers in the report escaped punishment, a pattern that Lancaster attributes to the church's long-standing practice of concealing and enabling abusive priests.

The Archdiocese, which is now facing the lawsuit, expressed its condolences to the Gallagher family while acknowledging the pending litigation. As the legal battle unfolds, survivors like Teresa Lancaster are hopeful that exposing these painful truths will lead to justice and prevent further harm to families affected by these heinous acts.