Catholic Sexual Abuse Targeted in Defrocked Cardinal Ruling
In an extraordinary move against Catholic sexual abuse, the Vatican has moved to defrock a well-known cardinal. Ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was found guilty of sexual abuse by a church tribunal, according to an announcement by the Vatican on February 16. This is the most serious form of punishment within the church.
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The 88-year-old former archbishop of Washington, D.C. resigned his ecclesiastical post in 2018 at the behest of Pope Francis for being intimate with an altar boy in the 1970s. In the February Catholic sexual abuse ruling, he was the first cardinal to be punished with laicization or removal from the clerical state. The ex-prelate was notified of the decision on February 15 after an appeal failed. This punishment makes it impossible for McCarrick to celebrate mass or preside over any other priestly function. He can no longer wear the collar or any other clerical vestments. In the future, the use of the title father or cardinal is no longer permitted, and he will simply refer to himself as Mr. McCarrick.
Church Tribunal
The church tribunal known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith passed the Catholic sexual abuse decree on January 11 based on McCarrick’s acts of solicitation within the confessional. Charges also included abuse of power and acts with minors and adults. The former cardinal appealed the decision, and it was heard on February 13. The pope said that there was no room for a further remedy to the tribunal’s decision, officially finalizing the matter.
Prior Acts of Catholic Sexual Abuse
McCarrick was known as a power broker within the church hierarchy. He was named a cardinal in 2001 and served as archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2000 to 2006. It was known within some ecclesiastical circles that McCarrick’s reputation was tarnished prior to February’s ruling.
In addition to the altar boy, another man said that he was abused by McCarrick in the 1980s. As a bishop in New Jersey, the church was said to have paid two men to settle their accusations that the prelate had abused them. The Vatican said that cover-up of assault as well as Catholic sexual abuse itself will no longer be tolerated. In addition, some have accused the ex-prelate of sleeping with seminarians, those in training to be priests. His acts were particularly traumatizing to young men because of the power he held within the church.
Issues Faced by the Church in 2018
In addition to the allegations against McCarrick, the church faced other Catholic sexual abuse cases in 2018. The results of a grand jury in Pennsylvania said that over 300 priests in six dioceses in the state abused 1,000 people. In Germany, an announcement that 3,600 people were abused in the years between 1946 and 2014 by clergy. Another issue in 2018 involved two Chilean bishops who were also defrocked in October and whom the Vatican said performed vast abuse of minors.
What Catholic Sexual Abuse Can Mean for a Person
The abuse of another person, particularly a child, can have lifelong repercussions. This is made even more despicable if the person is someone in power. Most people have an innate belief that the clergy is there to help them, not abuse them. When sexual abuse is fostered upon them by a person they felt was not going to hurt them, it is essential that the wrongdoer is brought to light and punished. A lawyer experienced in Catholic sexual abuse can help by ensuring that psychological and emotional damages are compensated.
Clergy Sexual Assault Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a clergy sexual assault lawyer. When abused by someone in the clergy, you have the right to demand that you receive the compensation you deserve for such acts. I can offer you free and friendly advice if you call (916) 921-6400 in the Sacramento area or (800) 404-5400 outside of it. You can also reach me online.
I’ve helped numerous residents of Sacramento and the Northern California area to obtain the damages they deserve and need after a traumatic event. I take my duty seriously to make sure that my client’s rights are protected.
I belong to the Million Dollar Advocates, an organization the allows membership to trial lawyers who have won more than $1 million for a client. I was invited to join the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. This honor is given to only the top one percent of lawyers who have displayed legal excellence in their practice.
To learn about my practice, go to the following pages:
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