Aged 93, Former Catholic Cardinal McCarrick Deemed Unfit for Trial Due to Dementia in Teen Sexual Abuse Case

The 93-year-old former prominent figure of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, will not be subject to trial for alleged sexual assault against a teenage boy from decades ago. The case against him was dismissed by a Massachusetts judge on Wednesday, as both prosecution and defense attorneys have concurred that he is afflicted with dementia.

Previously the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., McCarrick faced public disgrace when Pope Francis defrocked him in 2019, following an internal Vatican inquiry that exposed his history of sexual misconduct involving both adults and minors. The McCarrick scandal significantly eroded the church’s credibility, partly due to evidence indicating that Vatican and U.S. church leaders were aware of his relations with seminarians but chose to ignore the issue as he ascended within the U.S. church hierarchy, becoming a skillful fundraiser who advised three popes.

During the recent court proceeding, Dr. Kerry Nelligan, a psychologist employed by the prosecution, revealed substantial cognitive impairments in McCarrick’s memory based on two interviews conducted in June. His ability to retain information from one hour to the next was frequently compromised. Nelligan clarified that, akin to other forms of dementia, there are no medications capable of ameliorating these symptoms.

“It’s not solely his current deficits,” Nelligan affirmed. “There’s no conceivable path to improvement.”

Given his inability to recollect discussions, McCarrick was unable to effectively engage with his legal representatives in his defense, as pointed out by Nelligan.

McCarrick appeared via a video link during the hearing, his posture slightly slouched, dressed in a light green shirt with a grey sweater vest or sweater draping his shoulders. He remained silent throughout the proceedings.

The former influential American prelate was facing allegations of sexually abusing a teenage boy at a wedding reception held at Wellesley College in 1974.

Persisting in his innocence, McCarrick pleaded not guilty in September 2021. Additionally, he faced charges in April related to the sexual assault of an 18-year-old man in Wisconsin over 45 years ago.

In February, McCarrick’s legal team motioned for the case’s dismissal, presenting a diagnosis from a psychiatry and behavioral science expert at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, indicating that McCarrick suffers from dementia, potentially Alzheimer’s disease.

At that juncture, his attorneys noted that McCarrick possessed a “limited understanding” of the legal proceedings against him.

Residing in Dittmer, Missouri, McCarrick confronted three counts of indecent assault and battery on an individual over 14. His departure from Massachusetts did not grant him immunity from historical abuse allegations, as the statute of limitations was paused upon his exit.

Mitchell Garabedian, a well-known advocate for victims of clergy sexual abuse who represents the accuser, conveyed the client’s disappointment with the expert assessment conducted by the prosecution.

“Despite today’s decision by the criminal court,” Garabedian stated on Wednesday, “numerous victims of clergy sexual abuse still view former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick as a permanent embodiment of malevolence within the Catholic Church.”

The Big Big News usually refrains from disclosing the identities of sexual assault complainants unless they opt for public disclosure, which the victim in this particular case has not chosen to do.

During a 2021 interview with authorities, the accuser recounted that McCarrick had close ties to his family during his upbringing. Prosecutors outlined how McCarrick participated in family gatherings and accompanied them on vacations, with the victim referring to him as “Uncle Ted.”

Prosecutors asserted that McCarrick committed the abuse over an extended period, including during a wedding reception at Wellesley College when the victim was 16. The man also recounted a separate incident of sexual assault in a coat room after they returned to the reception.

Prosecutors detailed that McCarrick instructed the boy to recite the “Hail Mary” and “Our Father” prayers before leaving the room.

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More about Sexual Abuse Allegations

• Former Catholic Cardinal McCarrick’s Dismissed Case Due to Dementia
• Pope Francis Defrocks Cardinal McCarrick
• McCarrick Scandal’s Impact on Church Credibility
• Expert Assessment of McCarrick’s Mental State
• Details about McCarrick’s Relationship with Victim
• Legal Proceedings and McCarrick’s Defense
• Impact of Case Dismissal on Abuse Victims
• Charges and Legal History of Cardinal McCarrick