A criminal complaint was filed against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in Dedham District Court in Massachusetts. The alleged abuse occurred in the 1970s during a wedding reception at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. At the time of the abuse, McCarrick was assigned to and living in the rectory at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. McCarrick, who is 91 and currently living in Missouri, has been ordered a summons to appear in court for the arraignment on August 26.
"Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's history of prolific sex crimes has been ignored by the highest-ranking Catholic officials for decades," said attorney Jeff Anderson. "For too long Catholic institutions have been self-policing while making pledges and promises without action – McCarrick should be behind bars for his crimes."
The law firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates represents approximately four survivors who were abused by McCarrick while he was a Catholic official in New York and New Jersey. Survivors of sexual abuse have until August 13, 2021, to file a lawsuit under the New York Child Victims Act and until November 30, 2021, to file a lawsuit under the New Jersey Victims' Rights Bill.
Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York in 1959. Prior to his elevation to Bishop of Metuchen, McCarrick worked in various parishes within the Archdiocese of New York and spent two years on “special assignment” at Catholic University in Puerto Rico.
In 1978, Cardinal McCarrick was elevated to Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York where he worked until 1981 when he was appointed as the founding bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen. In 1986, McCarrick was appointed Archbishop of Newark. In late 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed McCarrick Archbishop of Washington and he was elevated to Cardinal in 2001.
Pope Francis removed Cardinal McCarrick from ministry in June 2018 after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced against McCarrick. He was allowed to resign from his position in July 2018 and was suspended from public ministry. In February 2019, Cardinal McCarrick was removed from the clerical state at the conclusion of an internal Church adjudication process conducted by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Cardinal McCarrick is the highest ranking Catholic official to be removed from the priesthood because of allegations of child sexual abuse. To-date, at least three survivors of abuse have come forward alleging sexual abuse by McCarrick.
The Anderson Report: Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese and Dioceses of New Jersey
This report contains the names of diocesan priests, religious order priests, deacons, nuns, and religious brothers and sisters associated with Catholic Dioceses in the State of New Jersey, including those of whom were assigned within, working in, or living within the Archdiocese and Dioceses in New Jersey who have been accused of sexual misconduct. The information in this Anderson Report is derived from publicly available sources. Download the report