Former Catholic Cardinal McCarrick, 93, Deemed Unfit for Trial on Charges of Teenage Sexual Abuse

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The former influential figure in the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, will not be subjected to trial for allegations of sexually assaulting a teenage boy several decades ago. A Massachusetts judge dismissed the case against the 93-year-old on Wednesday after both prosecution and defense teams concurred that he is grappling with dementia.

McCarrick, who previously held the position of Archbishop of Washington, D.C., was stripped of his cardinal status by Pope Francis in 2019 following an internal Vatican investigation that revealed his involvement in sexual misconduct with both adults and children. The McCarrick scandal inflicted a severe credibility crisis upon the Church, mainly due to evidence indicating that Vatican and U.S. church leaders were aware of his inappropriate interactions with seminarians. However, they chose to overlook this, allowing McCarrick to ascend within the U.S. Church ranks while excelling as a skilled fundraiser who advised three popes.

During the recent court hearing, Dr. Kerry Nelligan, a psychologist enlisted by the prosecution, highlighted significant deficits in McCarrick’s memory during two interviews conducted in June. His ability to recall previous discussions was notably impaired, with moments where he struggled to remember details even an hour later. As characteristic of dementia, Nelligan emphasized that there are no available medications capable of ameliorating these symptoms.

“It’s not merely his current deficits,” Nelligan explained, “there’s no foreseeable improvement.”

The judge’s ruling conveyed that former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick lacks the competency required to stand trial. The charges against the 93-year-old, relating to alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy many years ago in Massachusetts, were consequently dismissed on August 30th.

The challenges stemming from his memory limitations rendered him unable to effectively engage with his legal representation in his defense, as Nelligan pointed out.

McCarrick made a virtual appearance during the hearing, his posture slightly slouched in a chair, wearing a light green shirt complemented by what seemed to be a grey sweater vest or draped sweater. Throughout the proceedings, he chose not to address the court.

The once-influential American clergyman faced accusations concerning the abuse of a teenage boy at a wedding reception hosted at Wellesley College in 1974.

Maintaining his innocence, McCarrick pleaded not guilty in September 2021. Further charges were brought against him in April, related to the alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old man in Wisconsin over four and a half decades ago.

In February, McCarrick’s legal representatives petitioned the court for case dismissal. They presented findings from a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, asserting that McCarrick was grappling with dementia, possibly Alzheimer’s disease.

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

Residing in Dittmer, Missouri, McCarrick faced three counts of indecent assault and battery on an individual over 14. His departure from Massachusetts did not shield him from the accusations dating back decades, as the statute of limitations was paused upon his departure.

Mitchell Garabedian, a prominent attorney representing victims of clergy sexual abuse, and who represents the accuser, expressed in June that his client found the prosecution’s expert conclusions disheartening.

“Despite the court’s decision today,” Garabedian remarked on Wednesday, “many victims of clergy sexual abuse perceive former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick as an enduring embodiment of malevolence within the Catholic Church.”

The Big Big News typically refrains from disclosing the identities of sexual assault victims, unless they choose to be identified publicly – a step the victim in this case has not taken.

According to the accuser’s testimony in a 2021 interview, McCarrick had close ties to the accuser’s family during their upbringing. Prosecutors alleged that McCarrick frequently attended family events and accompanied them on vacations, with the victim referring to him as “Uncle Ted.”

The prosecution contended that McCarrick engaged in abusive behavior over several years, including an incident at his brother’s wedding reception at Wellesley College when the victim was 16. The victim recounted that McCarrick also sexually assaulted him in a coat room following their return to the reception.

Prosecutors further alleged that McCarrick instructed the victim to recite the “Hail Mary” and “Our Father” prayers before departing the room.

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More about Clergy Abuse Scandal

• Former Catholic Cardinal McCarrick Found Unfit for Trial Due to Dementia
• McCarrick Scandal: Church’s Credibility Crisis
• Vatican Investigation into Cardinal McCarrick’s Misconduct
• Church’s Response to McCarrick Scandal
• McCarrick’s Role as Adviser to Three Popes