Deacon Joseph Firlie
Ordained: 1980s
Died: 2000
Assignment History:
- 1980-1990s: St. Peter and Paul School (Cumberland, MD)
- 1990: Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Deacon Joseph Firlie
Deacon Joseph Firlie was ordained a Catholic priest and worked in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In April 2023, Maryland's Attorney General released a report alleging 156 Catholic clergy members sexually abused at least 600 children over six decades. The report lists the names of the abusers, including Deacon Firlie.
According to the Attorney General's report, in 1991, a 17-year-old boy from the Department of Juvenile Services, where Firlie worked, accused Firlie of making sexual advances and described him as "unstable." Firlie denied the allegation, and there were no criminal charges. The supervisor also told the archdiocese that Firlie's co-workers said, "We all know of Mr. Firlie's sexual problems." Firlie was confronted by the State's Attorney and was sent to the Johns Hopkins Sex Clinic.
Police detectives learned that Firlie was seen in an area of Cumberland referred to as the "Circuit," where men went to pick up young males. The detective notified the archdiocese and also told them about two other possible incidents of problematic behavior. The supervisor told Firlie to resign from DJS, or an investigation would be conducted. Firlie resigned. In 1992, he began a job with the Maryland Transportation Authority.
In 2010, a man called the Archdiocese of Baltimore and said that he was sexually abused by Deacon Firlie from 1979-1983 when he was an altar boy at St. Peter and Paul Catholic School from 10-14 years old. The archdiocese reported the call to the appropriate authorities but was not listed on their credibly accused list. Firlie died in 2000.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Maryland, contact our office today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help. Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.