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  Cleared Priest Returns to Parish

Washington Times
December 5, 1993

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore announced it was returning the Rev. Maurice Blackwell to his parish here nearly three months after it removed him over an accusation of sexual misconduct.

"The archdiocese is satisfied that the allegation is groundless," Mark Pacione, a spokesman, said Friday.

Father Blackwell, who is scheduled to celebrate Mass at the church Dec. 12, could not be reached for comment.

Since his removal, the 47-year-old priest has been under evaluation at an out-of-state residential treatment center run by the Catholic Church.

He remained there even after the Baltimore Police Department disclosed late in September that it was dropping its investigation of a claim by a teen-age male parishioner that Father Blackwell had "inappropriately touched" him.

 
 

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