Pope defrocks ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick over abuse claims

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Pope defrocks ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick over abuse claims

Ex-archbishop of Washington DC is most senior figure to be removed from priesthood in modern times

Harriet Sherwood Religion correspondent
Sat 16 Feb 2019 11.18 GMT

A former Roman Catholic archbishop and cardinal has been dismissed from the priesthood after the Vatican found him guilty of sexually abusing minors in a sign of an increasingly hardline stance taken by the church.

Theodore McCarrick, 88, one of the prominent figures in the church, was defrocked just days before an unprecedented global summit of bishops to discuss child sexual abuse is convened by the Vatican.

The Vatican’s move makes McCarrick the most senior figure to be removed from the priesthood in modern times. He will no longer be permitted to act as a cleric, and is forbidden to celebrate the sacraments except to grant absolution for sins to a person close to death. Only excommunication is a more severe punishment.

Pope Francis has approved the action as “definitive”, meaning McCarrick will not be allowed to appeal, the Vatican said on Saturday.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/16/pope-defrocks-ex-cardinal-theodore-mccarrick-over-abuse-claims

[hlthe2b]

1. So said the WAPO alert on my cell phone--at 3 o'clock this morning.

What a way to get awakened.

[Lordquinton]

2. Looks like he was defrocked for making the pope look bad

Unless they start on aassive defrocking spree that goes all the way to Benedict, then this is another PR move.

Also turn him and the evidence over to secular authority.

[trotsky]

3. Give me a fucking break.

...He will no longer be permitted to act as a cleric, and is forbidden to celebrate the sacraments except to grant absolution for sins to a person close to death. Only excommunication is a more severe punishment.

He's 88 years old. NEITHER of these is a punishment of any kind.

He deserves prison. This is a joke.