Theodore Edgar McCarrick (born 7 July 1930)[1] is an American former cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2006.[2]
McCarrick served as an auxiliary bishop of New York and Bishop of Metuchen. In 1986, he became the Archbishop of Newark. In 2001, he was appointed the Archbishop of Washington. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 21 February 2001.[1][3]
Scandals and controversies
In June 2018, McCarrick was removed from the public ministry by Pope Francis after it was discovered that McCarrick sexually abused a 16 year old boy in New York years ago.[4][5] A few days later, three more men accused McCarrick of sexual abuse.[6] A month later, another man from New Jersey accused McCarrick of sexual abuse.[7]
In 2018, McCarrick resigned from the College of Cardinals. The Vatican found him guilty of abuse in 2019. He was laicized, which means he was removed from the clergy. He became the highest-ranking American cleric to be laicized due to sexual abuse.[8][9] McCarrick became the first person to resign from the College of Cardinals since 1927 and the first cardinal to resign following allegations of sexual abuse.[10]
A report in November 2020 by the Secretariat of State found that Pope John Paul II was aware of allegations against McCarrick but did not believe them, and that Benedict XVI, in 2005, after learning of the allegations, wanted McCarrick quickly replaced.[11][12] The report did not blame Pope Francis for the scandal.[13]
In August 2023, a judge said McCarrick was not fit to stand trial because it is believed McCarrick has dementia.[14]
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