Washington D.C., Feb 16, 2019 / 09:32 am (CNA).- Bishops from across the United States have reacted to the news that Theodore McCarrick has been found guilty of sexual abuse and expelled from the clerical state.
The disgraced former cardinal and archbishop of Washington and Newark was found guilty in a Vatican decision announced Saturday.
A Vatican administrative penal process concluded that McCarrick had solicited sex in the confessional and molested minors and adults, crimes aggravated by his abuse of authority. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handled the canonical process, imposed a penalty of laicization.
“The imposition on former Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick of the penalty of his dismissal from the clerical state, thus prohibiting him any type of priestly ministry, underscores the gravity of his actions,” a Saturday statement from the Archdiocese of Washington reads.
McCarrick was Archbishop of Washington from 2001 until his retirement in 2006.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the Vatican’s penalty is “a clear signal that abuse will not be tolerated.”
“No bishop, no matter how influential, is above the law of the Church. For all those McCarrick abused, I pray this judgement will be one small step, among many, toward healing,” Dinardo said.
DiNardo said that his fellow bishops were strengthened in their resolve to be accountable to the Gospel, and that he is grateful for the way Pope Francis has responded to claims of abuse.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of McCarrick’s former diocese of Newark, said in a statement that McCarrick and other clerical abusers had “violated a sacred trust” and “caused incalculable harm” to the lives of victims – young and old.
“To all those abused by clergy, especially the victims of Theodore McCarrick, I continue to express my profound sadness and renew my heartfelt apologies for the life-long suffering you have endured,” Tobin said.
“Despite the reprehensible misconduct and crimes of all who have abused minors, we must challenge ourselves to continue to follow Christ our Redeemer in our Church, where the healing power of God’s love is manifest each day.”
The Archdiocese of Washington expressed hope the Vatican decision will assist survivors with the healing process, and reassure those who have “experienced disappointment or disillusionment because of what former Archbishop McCarrick has done.”
Since last summer, McCarrick has been in residence at a Kansas friary, living a life of “prayer and penance” at the orders of Pope Francis, pending the outcome of his canonical process.
Now that McCarrick has been laicized, it is unclear if and for how long he will remain at the friary, or where he will go from there. McCarrick is 88 years old.
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Laicization doesn’t address the scandal raised by Archbishop Vigano involving others including the Pontiff. Indignation by bishops especially those prev associated with McCarrick is posturing, diplomatic and seem in line with Vatican strategy of averting the paramount issue of homosexual complicity and networking among Hierarchy. The Pontiff continues to elevate those complicit by association and previous appointments by McCarrick. The initial reaction of outrage and attempt to take serious action [Cardinal DiNardo was thwarted by the Pontiff] is suddenly strangely quieted. During this entire episode homosexuality within clerical ranks both high and low remains entrenched and by all indication reinforced by the Vatican’s policies. As anticipated the Feb Synod has no value whatsoever in addressing the matter undermining Catholicism. Manifestos are fine and helpful as are petitions, individual vocal complaint. There needs be for sake of the Laity as well as effectiveness concerted effort particularly faithful prelates in exercising their Apostolic commission to defend the faith.