An Aberdeen man’s complaint against a Havre de Grace church for sexual abuse in 1994 at the hands of a then-church leader is currently in litigation as courts work to process thousands of cases recently filed under Maryland’s Child Victims Act.
The man, identified as T.P. in the suit, claims a deacon at Antioch Baptist Church sexually abused him during a church event when T.P. was 8 years old, according to the complaint. The man seeks damages from the church for negligence and liability.
“When sexual abuse occurs in settings designated as holy, it is a unique form of betrayal,” the complaint reads. “When the perpetrator is a spiritual leader, priest, clergy member or other member of religious personnel, the perpetrator can manipulate the victim into believing the abuse is endorsed by God.”
According to the complaint , the deacon forcibly fondled T.P.’s genitals and performed oral sex on T.P. in 1994.
The complaint alleged the church had knowledge of the deacon’s inappropriate conduct with minors prior to T.P.’s abuse and the church failed to investigate these concerns or implement protective measures. T.P. now seeks damages from the personal, physical, psychological and emotional injuries endured as a result of the abuse, according to the complaint.
“[T.P.] was prevented and will continue to be prevented from performing daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life,” according to the complaint.
A scheduling conference was recently held in Harford County Circuit Court, and the suit is in line to be tried by November 2026, said one of T.P.’s lawyers, Frank Natale.
Natale and Michael J. Wasicko, who represent the church, both declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
The suit was filed on May 22, as part of thousands of Child Victim’s Act cases filed between April 5 and June 1 before an amendment slashing the cap of monetary damages by more than half took effect.
“The courts look like they are now dealing with this onslaught of filings in a very efficient way, in a good way,” Natale said. “They were challenged with the fact that there’s thousands and thousands of filings that were made by private attorneys in a very short period of time.”
The Child Victims Act, which passed in 2023, removed the statute of limitations for people to file complaints against their abusers or people who knew about it. It has since encountered numerous roadblocks, including an appeal in the Supreme Court of Maryland and the amendment passed in April.
At least 10 people in Harford County have alleged sexual abuse in the public school system from 1981 to 2015, according to a series of separate complaints.
“I still believe the idea and the goal behind the CVA is incredibly honorable and opens the possibility for folks who have suffered for a long time to get closure on these old wounds,” Natale said. “Many of our clients are grateful for this opportunity, although it’s a painful process for them to relive and recount the things they’ve gone through.”
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