MARYLAND
ABC 2
[with video]
Kate Mills
The Netflix series “The Keepers” suggests that Bishop Malooly might have participated in a cover-up related to Father A. Joseph Maskell’s alleged abuse of his students in the 1960s. Bishop Malooly worked various roes with the Baltimore Archdiocese beginning in 1984, until his appointment as the Ninth Bishop of Wilmington in 2008.
Bishop Malooly released a statement Monday, claiming he wanted to clarify the insinuations made in “The Keepers.”
He said he was not aware of the accusations of sexual abuse until 1992 while he was serving as Chancellor and Vicar General. When additional allegations came forth in 1994, Maskell was permanently removed.
Bishop Malooly confirmed that he did meet with Dr. Charles Franz at his Catonsville dental office, as depicted in “The Keepers.” However, the bishop says “at no time did I offer Dr. Franz a boat.” He continues his statement, “Charles Franz states that his mother made some kind of a report about Maskell to unidentified Archdiocesan authorities in 1967. I am not aware of any such report. I was a college student in 1967. As far as I know, there is no record of any report by Mrs. Franz in Archdiocesan files.”
Here is the full statement released by Bishop Malooly:
“In the spirit of truth, I would like to make some clarifications regarding some of the claims and insinuations that were made in ‘The Keepers.’ My intention is to set the record straight, and in no way do I wish to minimize the pain and suffering caused by the abuse perpetrated by Joseph Maskell, or any other priest.
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