McCarrick Is Believed to Be the Highest Ranked Catholic Official Accused of Child Sexual Abuse and Facing Civil Lawsuits
(Saint Paul, MN) – Today in Dedham District Court, Judge Paul J. McCallum ruled that defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick cannot stand trial due to dementia. McCarrick was facing trial for allegedly abusing a minor in the 1970s during a wedding reception at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. At the time of the alleged abuse, McCarrick was assigned to and living in the rectory at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
“Cardinal McCarrick not being able to stand trial comes as no surprise. What is shocking is that he was given permission by the pope, cardinals, and clerical culture for so many decades and allowed to do so much harm to so many for so long,” said attorney Jeff Anderson.
Jeff Anderson & Associates represents approximately 7 survivors who were abused by McCarrick while he was a Catholic official in New York or New Jersey.
“McCarrick’s legacy of harm and horror is evergreen,” said Anderson. “Just because he cannot stand trial for the crimes does not mean the survivors and all their families betrayed by him cannot pursue an authentic measure of justice. We support the survivors and the opportunity to give them a voice through the crucibles of the courtrooms in the trials to come in New York and New Jersey.”