In November 1993, a woman reported that Father James Avant sexually abused her son in the early 1970s at St. Martin’s rectory while her son was in the 8th grade. She said her son claimed other boys were sexually abused, and Avant held orgies in his room. The Archdiocese notified the Provincial of the Capuchin-Franciscan Friars, Father William Wiethorn, in November 1993. Wiethorn is documented saying, “he was not surprised that this would have happened and that most of the Friars felt that [Avant] was capable of this.” Pressured by the Provincial Vicar of the Capuchin-Franciscan Friars, Avant requested to leave the Order and ministry in the Catholic Church in 1995.
| Date | Church/Organization | Location |
| 1972 | Morgan State University | Baltimore, MD |
| 1972-1978 | St. Martin’s Church | Baltimore, MD |
| 1979-1984 | Charles Lwanga Center | Baltimore, MD |
