Fr. Frederick H. Duke

Monsignor. In 1988, the Archdiocese received an allegation against Duke of sexual abuse of a boy during 7th and 8th grades in 1953-1954. This victim received a $25K settlement from Duke. Duke admitted in 1988 to sexually abusing 26 children 1944 -1961, seven of whom later came forward. The abuse included oral and anal rape. Many victims told other priests and/or church authorities, to no avail. In one case, Fr. John Tierney did speak to Duke in the early 1950s, and the abuse of that victim stopped. One man said in 1993 that he was abused over two years in the 1940s, beginning at age 10; he told another priest in confession, who swore him to secrecy. (The priest, Joseph Kenney, was later credibly accused of child sexual abuse.) Duke also sent other victims to confession. The Archdiocese knew Duke was sexually abusing boys as early as 1953 and was sent for ‘spiritual direction.’ He died in 1992. His name appeared on the 9/2002 list of priests and religious brothers in the Baltimore archdiocese who had been accused of child sexual abuse. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report.