After the resignation of the former archbishop of Washington for alleged sexual abuse, LatinAmerican Post explains who this ecclesiastical figure is

In a statement issued by the Cardinal of New York, Timothy Dolan, last Friday, July 20, it is explained that the diocese received reports of alleged sexual abuse by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick to a teenager. The facts would have occurred in 1973, 45 years ago.

Leer en español: Escándalo en el Vaticano: ¿Quién es Theodore McCarrick?

According to El Comercio de Perú, "an independent agency" conducted an investigation IGNORE INTO McCarrick that produced devastating results and that were transmitted to a committee that considered the accusations "credible and supported." In 2002, a scandal of capital proportions with a case of pedophilia in the Diocese of Boston, originated the Letter of Protection of Children, which is today adopted by all priests in the United States.

After a week, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the prominent cardinal, who said he has no current memory of that incident, reported El Comercio. But who is Theodore McCarrick and how did he become a cardinal of the United States? In LatinAmerican Post we explain you.

A story full of achievements

McCarrick turned 88 on July 7. Son of Captain Theodore Egan McCarrick and Margareth McLaughlin, McCarrick was born in New York and there he took his first steps in the Saint Joseph Seminary, to then strengthen his university path with a master's degree in history and a doctorate in sociology at the University Catholic of America in Washington, according to the Aciprensa report.

On May 31, 1958, McCarrick was ordained a priest and later he briefly led the Institute for Spanish Studies at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico. The same Aciprensa publication indicates that between 1961 and 1963, he was dean of the students of the Catholic University of America and a faculty member of the Graduate School and the University of Arts and Sciences. Later, McCarrick was elected titular bishop of Rusubisir, and, in addition, he was appointed Auxiliary of New York on May 24, 1977, years in which he presumably committed the crime.

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On February 21, 2001, he was ordained Cardinal Presbyter on February 21, 2001; accrediting the title of Saints Nereo and Achilleo. He participated in the conclave of April 18 and 19, 2005.

Once he was 75 years old, McCarrick submitted his resignation as cardinal on July 7, 2005, in accordance with the provisions of canon law. On May 16, 2006, his resignation from the government of the archdiocese was accepted. His successor was Archbishop Donald William Wuerl.

McCarrick speaks five languages ​​and understands two others. In this order, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Then, Portuguese and Polish. The Cardinal stood out for his work on international human rights issues, as well as justice and peace issues.

In the midst of this new scandal, McCarrick also led an unprecedented event with his resignation. As El Comercio said and according to Vaticanists, "the only case in which a cardinal renounced his lifetime status dates back to 1927 during the papacy of Pius XI, who accepted the resignation of French cardinal Lois Billot."

An indelible 'stain'

McCarrick's achievements were tainted by the accusation of sexual abuse reported by the New York Times. According to the statements of the attacked man, who identified himself as James, the archbishop emeritus of Washington had abused him for twenty years and since he was a minor.

James added that the abuse began when he was 11 years old, and that he did not denounce for fear of the reactions of his family, before a person so respected and loved, whom his brothers called "uncle Teddy".

La Vanguardia announced that the alleged victim indicated, following the dismissal of the cardinal, the following: "I got down on my knees and thanked God that I was not alone and everything was going to be fine."

LatinAmerican Post | Onofre Zambrano
Translated from “Escándalo en el Vaticano: ¿Quién es Theodore McCarrick?”