Theodore McCarrick, former cardinal and archbishop of Washington (United States) that spent decades moving in the highest circles of the church, and was then convicted in an investigation of the Vatican for sexual abuse of minors and adults, died at age 94.
A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington shared Friday with CNA – Ewtn News – a statement in which Cardinal Robert Mcelroy, current Archbishop of Washington, confirmed the death of McCarrick. McCarrick, who, according to reports, suffered dementia, resided in an installation in the rural area of Missouri.
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“Today I learned the death of Theodore McCarrick, exarzobispo of Washington. At this time, I am especially concerned with the situation of those who harmed during his priestly ministry. Despite his constant pain, we firmly pray for them and for all victims of sexual abuse,” said Cardinal Mcelroy.
Ordered priest in 1958, McCarrick, born in New York, ascended in the Church in the United States throughout the mid -twentieth century. He was auxiliary bishop of New York, and subsequently directed the diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey; Newark’s archdiocese, New Jersey; and then that of Washington DC
He was an outstanding participant in the development of the Dallas letter of 2002 and basic standards of the United States Catholic Bishop Conference (USCCB), which established procedures to handle accusations of sexual abuse against priests.
In 2018, reports on abuse, grooming and harassment of seminarians from McCarrick publicly broke into the scene in the middle of a national analysis of clerical sexual abuse.
An investigation of the Vatican in 2019 declared McCarrick guilty of numerous cases of sexual abuse, and Pope Francis expelled him from the clerical state in February of that year. The following year, the Vatican published an extensive report on McCarrick that examined in detail institutional knowledge and decision making with respect to the former cardinal and how he continued being promoted despite rumors of misconduct.
In addition to the Vatican’s investigations, McCarrick faced numerous criminal charges. However, a state judge of the state of Massachusetts ruled in 2023 that McCarrick was not competent to be tried for the positions of sexual abuse that were imputed to him.
A criminal case against McCarrick in Wisconsin He was suspended In January 2024 after a psychologist hired by the court determined that McCarrick was not competent to be tried.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Jonah McKeown
Jonah McKeown is editor and producer of Podcasts of Catholic News Agency. He has a master’s degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri and has worked as a writer, radio producer and cameraman.