Maryland Deacon Stripped of Ministry After Arrest in Child Solicitation Sting, Investigation Continues

In a recent development, a Maryland Catholic deacon has been arrested on charges of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor. Kenneth Goedeke, 45, of Bel Air, was apprehended on August 5 following communications with an undercover investigator posing as a 15-year-old. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office has charged him with two counts of sexual solicitation of a minor.

Following the arrest, the Archdiocese of Baltimore confirmed that Goedeke had been serving as a deacon at St. Margaret Parish in Bel Air and had recently started at St. Ignatius Church in Hickory. The Archdiocese promptly removed his faculties and suspended him from ministry and employment, pending the outcome of the investigation. Church officials have stated that the charges are not connected to any activities at the parishes or schools where Goedeke served.

Goedeke was ordained as a permanent deacon in 2023 and had previously served at St. Patrick in Havre de Grace and St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen. His career also included work at St. Isaac Jogues Church and John Carroll High School, where he underwent FBI and CJIS fingerprint checks, along with comprehensive background and reference checks, prior to his employment and ordination.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler expressed his profound emotions regarding the arrest, stating his anger at the betrayal of trust and disgust at the predatory nature of the alleged actions. He also expressed gratitude for the decisive intervention by detectives, preventing potential harm to a child. Sheriff Gahler emphasized the importance of coming forward with information, noting that arrests often reveal additional victims who have not yet come forward. This aligns with the biblical call to seek justice and protect the vulnerable, as reflected in Micah 6:8.

The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with information about the case or who believes they may have been a victim to contact investigators. The Archdiocese is also encouraging anyone with information about suspected child sexual abuse involving clergy or church personnel to come forward, underscoring the importance of accountability and care for victims, resonating with the biblical principle of loving one’s neighbor (Luke 12:48).

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