Bishop Carl Fisher
Ordained: 1973
Died: 1993
Assignment History:
- 1973-1975: Church of the Incarnation (Washington, DC)
- 1975-1982: St. Veronica's Church (Baltimore, MD)
- 1982: Corporate Board Member of Catholic Charities (Baltimore, MD)
- 1982-1987: St. Francis Xavier Church (Baltimore, MD)
- 1987-1993: San Pedro Parish (Los Angeles, CA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Bishop Carl Fisher
Bishop Carl Fisher was ordained a Josephite priest and worked in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In 2019, Fisher was listed on the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors list. 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 Bishop Fisher.
According to the Attorney General's report, in 2002, a man reported that Bishop Fisher sexually abused him between 1976 and 1978 at St. Veronica's church in Baltimore. The victim claimed that Fisher sexually abused him three times a week for over a year, including oral and anal rape. Fisher continued to contact the victim after he left Baltimore and entered military service. In 2003, the Archdiocese made the mandated report and settled with the victim for $80,000.
According to internal documents from 2003 about the 2002 report of abuse says, "a review of the file indicates that in about 1990, the Archdiocese became aware of a specific allegation that Fr. Fisher had propositioned a young adult (approximately 21 years old) during an overnight trip to New York. There was also information that Fr. Fisher had previously had frequent visits from young men at the rectories of his prior assignments."
In 2004, a man reported that Fisher sexually abused him in 1972-73 in the parish rectory of St. Veronica's. The victim claims the abuse happened approximately four to five times when the victim was 7 to 8.
At a hearing before a committee of the Maryland General Assembly in March 2005, a man publicly reported that he was sexually abused by Fisher multiple times in the 1970s when he was approximately 13 or 14. Fisher took the victim to his room and fondled his genitals while reading the Bible to him. He contacted the archdiocese again in 2015 to say he believed there were other victims. The archdiocese made the mandated reports in 2005 and 2015. and a settlement was reached with the victim for $40,000.
In 2009, a woman reported that Fisher sexually abused her in approximately 1977 when she was 14 to 16 years old at St. Veronica's. He asked her if she wanted to have some fun and offered her $10.00. He then touched her breast, put his hands in her crotch, and asked if she would touch his erect penis. The Archdiocese made the mandated report. The victim provided additional details of the abuse in 2012, stating similar incidents and money offered.
Fisher died in 1993 while working in Los Angeles.
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.