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U.S. NEWS Thursday 21 June 2018

Cardinal Theodore

McCarrick punished

over abuse finding

By MICHAEL R. SISAK recollection of this reported
Associated Press abuse, and believe in my
NEW YORK (AP) — Cardinal innocence, I am sorry for
Theodore McCarrick, the the pain the person who
retired Roman Catholic brought the charges has
archbishop of Washington, gone through, as well as for
D.C., has been removed the scandal such charges
from public ministry and cause our people,"
faces further punishment McCarrick said.
over "credible" allegations The former altar boy, a New
that he sexually abused York-area businessman in his
a teenager while a priest early 60s, went to a church
in New York more than compensation program in
40 years ago, the church January with allegations
announced Wednesday. that McCarrick fondled him In this Sept. 23, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis reaches out to hug Cardinal Archbishop emeritus
Theodore McCarrick after the Midday Prayer of the Divine with more than 300 U.S. Bishops at the
Pope Francis ordered when he was 16 and 17, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington.
the 87-year-old cardinal's his lawyer said, and met in Associated Press
removal pending further April with the church panel
action that could end verifying his claims. Lawyer
in his expulsion from the Patrick Noaker said it was misconduct with adults — him. He participated in the
priesthood. A church panel his only option because no cases there involving The church said it notified 2005 conclave that
determined that a former criminal and civil statutes of minors — and that two the authorities and hired elected Pope Benedict
altar boy's allegations limitations had long kicked of them resulted in legal outside investigators XVI, presided over the
that McCarrick fondled in. settlements. after learning of the graveside service for U.S.
him during preparations According to the lawyer, The Newark Archdiocese allegation. The Manhattan Sen. Edward Kennedy
for Christmas Mass at St. the former altar boy said declined to provide District Attorney's office at Arlington National
Patrick's Cathedral in 1971 McCarrick unzipped his additional details, citing said Wednesday that Cemetery in 2009, and
and 1972 were "credible pants, reached inside confidentiality concerns. it investigated and celebrated Mass with Pope
and substantiated." and fondled him while Richard Sipe, a former priest determined a prosecution Francis during his 2015 visit
McCarrick, the Washington taking measurements turned clergy abuse expert, was barred by New York's to Washington.
archbishop from 2000 to for a cassock he was to said seminarians and statute of limitations. Advocates for abuse
2006, is one of the highest- wear during the Mass. He young priests complained The results of the church's victims said McCarrick
ranking U.S. church officials remembers McCarrick to him about McCarrick in investigation were also undermined efforts to
accused in a sexual saying to him, "Let's not tell the 1970s and early 1980s forwarded to a review expose abuse and hold
abuse scandal that has anybody about this." and that he has since board of church figures perpetrators accountable
seen thousands of priests A year later, Noaker said, interviewed 12 men who and lay professionals that by opposing an extended
implicated. The church McCarrick cornered alleged that McCarrick deemed the allegation statute of limitations for
also acknowledged that the boy in a bathroom, propositioned, harassed or credible and substantiated, such crimes and vowing
it had made previously grabbed him and shoved had sex with them. the church said. not to comply if a law were
undisclosed legal his hand into his pants. The Sipe said he also reviewed Cardinal Timothy Dolan passed requiring priests
settlements with adults boy pushed McCarrick settlement documents that said the New York to report suspected child
who accused McCarrick away and ran out, Noaker detailed some alleged archdiocese knew of no abuse.
of sexual misconduct said. encounters, including one other such allegations McCarrick remains in
decades ago. The encounters shook the where a man said he "felt against McCarrick, who Washington and is in frail
McCarrick said he was teenager, who had aspired paralyzed" as McCarrick was a priest in the city health, the church said.
shocked by the former altar to become a priest, "to his wrapped his legs around from 1958, when he was "The abuse of anyone
boy's allegation and denied foundation," Noaker said. him and started to kiss and ordained, until 1981, when who is vulnerable is both
it in a statement distributed Also Wednesday, the rub him. he became Bishop of shameful and horrific,"
through the church. He Newark, New Jersey McCarrick's statement did Metuchen, New Jersey. current Metuchen Bishop
said he cooperated in archdiocese, where not address the allegations McCarrick, known to be James Checchio said. "The
the investigation and McCarrick was a bishop involving adults. The fluent in seven languages, abuse of a minor by a priest
accepted the pope's and archbishop, said it was Washington Archdiocese was archbishop of Newark — as is being reported in this
decision out of obedience aware of three decades- did not immediately from 1986 until 2000 and case from New York — is an
to the church. old allegations against return a message seeking was elevated to cardinal in abomination and sickens
"While I have absolutely no him involving sexual additional comment from 2001. and saddens us all."q