Pope Francis Accepts Resignation Of Accused Cardinal

The New York Times reports:

The pope has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington and a prominent diplomat who has been at the center of a mushrooming scandal after several men came forward with allegations of decades-old sexual abuse, the Vatican announced on Saturday.

In a statement, the Vatican said: “Yesterday evening the Holy Father received the letter in which Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop emeritus of Washington (U.S.A.), presented his resignation as a member of the College of Cardinals.

“Pope Francis accepted his resignation from the cardinalate and has ordered his suspension from the exercise of any public ministry, together with the obligation to remain in a house yet to be indicated to him, for a life of prayer and penance until the accusations made against him are examined in a regular canonical trial.”

The Catholic Register reports



James told the newspaper of a pattern of abuse he said was begun by Cardinal McCarrick when the cleric was 39 and the boy was 11 and living with his family in New Jersey. The abusive relationship lasted nearly 20 years, according to James, who had asked that his last name not be used to protect a sibling.

James told the newspaper the abuse included inappropriate touching and masturbation, but always stopped short of intercourse. The abuse continued after the family moved to California, and throughout James’ service in the Navy and his struggles with alcohol and drugs.

As with earlier accounts of abuse allegations published by the Times, there was no kissing or hand-holding by Cardinal McCarrick — who called himself “Uncle Ted” to James, who filed a police report against the cardinal in the suburban Virginia county of Washington where James now lives.