Kudos to the Trib for publishing the AP’s version of a story with local impact: “Baltimore priest now at Saint Vincent Archabbey after being dismissed over 2018 sexual harassment settlement” (Oct. 17, TribLIVE). But real thanks go to The Baltimore Banner for running the initial story that forced the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Order of Saint Benedict to take action and suspend the Rev. Paschal Morlino from ministry.
Will the OSB and Saint Vincent Archabbey fulfill — and make public — their promise of an investigation into Morlino’s conduct? This seems like a fantastic opportunity for the Trib staff to investigate the investigators. As The Banner asked in a follow-up, “How does a monk come up with $200,000” in settlement money?
Rather than relying on what we might or might not hear from his superiors at Saint Vincent Archabbey, if the Trib would independently help hold this man publicly accountable for his actions, at least one of your readers will be grateful. I suspect many more would, too.
Jennifer D’Souza
Washington Township, Westmoreland County