Cardinal McCarrick Allegations: A Timeline of Abuse and Consequence
Allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick highlight grave concerns regarding abuse within the Catholic Church. These claims uncover incidents from nearly five decades ago, raising questions about accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals in religious settings.
Initial Allegations
In a significant claim brought forward by attorney Mr. Noaker, it was revealed that during the early 1970s, a 16-year-old boy, referred to as a victim at the time, encountered McCarrick—then a monsignor and personal secretary to Cardinal Cooke—within the cathedral sacristy. The interaction began innocently as McCarrick measured the boy for clothing, but took a disturbing turn. Mr. Noaker stated that McCarrick, “under the guise of measuring his inseam, unzipped his pants, and sexually assaulted him.” Following this incident, McCarrick allegedly urged the youth, “Let’s not tell anyone about this.”
Continuing Abuse
Over the course of the following year, McCarrick reportedly continued to praise the boy’s appearance. In 1972, during the holiday season, the victim was chosen once more to serve as an altar server for Christmas Mass. However, this assignment led to another problematic encounter. The boy was subsequently measured by another adult, yet it was McCarrick who found and cornered him in a bathroom. According to Mr. Noaker, “He just came in, grabbed him, shoved his hand into his pants, and tried to get his hand into his underwear.” This alarming incident left the youth with no option but to resist vigorously, pushing the former cleric away.
Consequences and Institutional Response
Despite the severity of these actions, a statute of limitations prevented any legal action against McCarrick in New York. Nonetheless, the archdiocesan response included a restriction prohibiting McCarrick from having contact with minors while residing in a retirement home managed by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C.
As further allegations emerged from other victims who claimed similar misconduct by McCarrick, the Vatican took decisive action. On July 28, 2018, Pope Francis accepted McCarrick’s resignation from the College of Cardinals, a symbolic yet significant step towards accountability. Subsequently, McCarrick was barred from public ministry and relocated to a Capuchin friary in Victoria, Kansas, where he remained as canonical charges were pending.
Current Status
As of 2021, reports indicated that McCarrick was residing in Missouri. His case continues to serve as a painful reminder of the systemic issues surrounding abuse within religious institutions and the importance of safeguarding the vulnerable.
The fallout from these allegations not only illustrates the devastating effects on the victims involved, whose aspirations, including one young man’s desire for the priesthood, were irrevocably altered but also poses critical questions regarding the Church’s ability to address and prevent such abuse in the future.
