Deacon Joseph P. Firlie
Died: 10/20/2000
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD
Named publicly as accused in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report. Assigned to St. Peter and Paul School in Cumberland MD in the 1980s and 1990s. Long-time probation officer for the MD Department of Juvenile Services (DJS). Made permanent deacon in the mid-1970s. Allegation reported to Bishop Murphy in 1991 that Firlie had made sexual advances at DJS toward a 17-year-old boy. A police detective said that Firlie had been seen in an area of Cumberland where men pick up young men. Firlie admitted “his problems” to the State’s Attorney and was sent to the Johns Hopkins Sex Clinic. He died in 10/2000. In 2010 a man reported to the Archdiocese that he was sexually abused by Firlie at St. Peter and Paul Catholic School at ages 10-14, during 1979-1983.
Return to main database page. See abbreviations and posting policy. Send corrections.
Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.