Vatican Defrocks Formal Cardinal

"Pope Francis has defrocked a former cardinal in a first for the Catholic Church, over accusations American Theodore McCarrick sexually abused a teenager 50 years ago, the Vatican has said.

Pope Francis has decided that the ruling, which followed an appeal by the man who was a power-broker as Archbishop of Washington DC from 2001 to 2006, was now final.
A Vatican statement said his crimes were made more serious by "the aggravating factor of the abuse of power".

McCarrick, who in July became the first Roman Catholic prelate in nearly 100 years to lose the title of cardinal, has now become the highest profile church figure to be dismissed from the priesthood in modern times.

The decision comes as the Church is still grappling with a decades-long sexual abuse crisis that has exposed how predator priests were moved from parish to parish instead of being defrocked or turned over to civilian authorities in countries across the globe.

With the ruling, Pope Francis appears to be sending a signal that even those in the highest echelons of the hierarchy will be held accountable.

The ruling, made by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith three days ago, was announced ahead of next week's meeting at the Vatican between the heads of national Catholic churches to discuss the global abuse crisis.

Defrocking means McCarrick can no longer call himself a priest or celebrate the sacraments, although he would be allowed to administer to a person on the verge of death in an emergency.

The allegations against McCarrick, whose fall from grace stunned the US Church, date back to decades ago when he was still rising to the top of the hierarchy there.

McCarrick, who has been living in seclusion in a remote friary in Kansas, has responded publicly to only one of the allegations, saying that he has "absolutely no recollection" of an alleged case of sexual abuse of a 16-year-old boy more than 50 years ago.

Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said the ruling showed that "different treatment for bishops who have committed or covered up abuse in fact represents a form of clericalism that is no longer acceptable."
RTE

a reply to: DpatC
I'm a Catholic and while a good step, it's far too little, far to late.

To me, the Vatican is still not trying hard enough to clean this problem up.

a reply to: pavil


A *token* simply not nearly enough.

However if justice were to be done there wouldn't be many left in office?

a reply to: DpatC

They took 50 years to get this perv, they'll wait 50 years to get the ones they have today.

It's getting 'frocked' up, no doubt!

originally posted by: Trueman
a reply to: DpatC

They took 50 years to get this perv, they'll wait 50 years to get the ones they have today.

It's like Logan's run for pedophiles, what a disgrace.

originally posted by: DpatC
"Pope Francis has defrocked a former cardinal in a first for the Catholic Church, over accusations American Theodore McCarrick sexually abused a teenager 50 years ago, the Vatican has said.

Fifty years and only one case? Abusers are prolific in abusing so how many

other adults are now living in the hell he left behind?

Pope Francis has decided that the ruling, which followed an appeal by the man who was a power-broker as Archbishop of Washington DC from 2001 to 2006, was now final.
A Vatican statement said his crimes were made more serious by "the aggravating factor of the abuse of power".

ALL abuse is the abuse of power..... is he trying to lessen the sex part of

the crime to make it more palatable?

McCarrick, who in July became the first Roman Catholic prelate in nearly 100 years to lose the title of cardinal, has now become the highest profile church figure to be dismissed from the priesthood in modern times.

Only one in a hundred years? Think of the many who have got away with

it!!! who climbed the religious ranks while abusing and got away with it!

The decision comes as the Church is still grappling with a decades-long sexual abuse crisis that has exposed how predator priests were moved from parish to parish instead of being defrocked or turned over to civilian authorities in countries across the globe.

With all those predator priests and those of higher rank.....only one case

in the six years of the popes tenure? there will be many perp priests

dying with a clean sheet '

With the ruling, Pope Francis appears to be sending a signal that even those in the highest echelons of the hierarchy will be held accountable.
The ruling, made by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith three days ago, was announced ahead of next week's meeting at the Vatican between the heads of national Catholic churches to discuss the global abuse crisis.
The allegations against McCarrick, whose fall from grace stunned the US Church, date back to decades ago when he was still rising to the top of the hierarchy there.

Far too long in coming it has been known for years.....

McCarrick, who has been living in seclusion in a remote friary in Kansas, has responded publicly to only one of the allegations, saying that he has "absolutely no recollection" of an alleged case of sexual abuse of a 16-year-old boy more than 50 years ago.

Hmmn.... convenient memory lapse, shame the same wont hold good for

the many victims of his abuse.

Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said the ruling showed that "different treatment for bishops who have committed or covered up abuse in fact represents a form of clericalism that is no longer acceptable."
RTE

Time will tell ..... They need to get a move on.

The vatican, absent of almost everything, defrocks someone...

Why is church hierarchy such nonsense?

originally posted by: EternalSolace
The vatican, absent of almost everything, defrocks someone...

Why is church hierarchy such nonsense?

Indeed, Why does a religion need a whole country?

. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. Encircled by a 2-mile border with Italy, Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York's Central Park. Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head.

AND

Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19),

Double standards

originally posted by: DpatC
"Pope Francis has defrocked a former cardinal in a first for the Catholic Church, over accusations American Theodore McCarrick sexually abused a teenager 50 years ago, the Vatican has said.

Pope Francis has decided that the ruling, which followed an appeal by the man who was a power-broker as Archbishop of Washington DC from 2001 to 2006, was now final.
A Vatican statement said his crimes were made more serious by "the aggravating factor of the abuse of power".

I find the Vatican response to be somewhat lacking. After all, surely every instance where a religious figure, Catholic or otherwise, abuses a child is an abuse of power, it doesn't matter if they're a power broker in a big city or a priest in a rural diocese, it is an abuse of power. Given how ingrained child abuse is in the very fabric of the Catholic Church, the whole sorry cabal should be defrocked...

originally posted by: eletheia

originally posted by: EternalSolace
The vatican, absent of almost everything, defrocks someone...

Why is church hierarchy such nonsense?

Indeed, Why does a religion need a whole country?

. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. Encircled by a 2-mile border with Italy, Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York's Central Park. Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head.

AND

Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19),

Double standards

I'll call out the entirety of Catholicism in the face of scripture... Catholicism is absolute trash in the face of the bible. There is no priest, cardinal, pope, bishop, nor whatever you can come up with that can forgive an individual of sin.

This point is evident time and time again taking the scripture into considerations. Only Jesus Christ can forgive sin. Not the pope, not the bishop, not confession to a local priest.

If you believe in the Bible, you can't take pieces and leave out others that don't fit your agenda.

a reply to: EternalSolace


I dont follow any religion. Like most people I had Bible classes at school.

For me the Bible has moral life lessons that have survived over the years.


However like most things the people who get to power, exercise that power

to suit themselves which is total hypocracy ...... To the Catholics I ask where

in the Bible does it say you can abuse children?

Isn't the entire point of religion is that GOD forgives?

If a crime was committed let the legal system work it out.

And then let the almighty work it out.

a reply to: neo96

Wouldn't that be interesting if god didn't forgive?