Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former Archbishop of Newark and Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C., has been removed from public ministry.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former Archbishop of Newark and Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C., has been removed from public ministry in the wake of allegations that he abused a teen 50 years ago while serving as a priest in the New York Archdiocese.
At the same time, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, who has been Archbishop of Newark since January 2017, disclosed that allegations that McCarrick engaged in sexual misconduct with adults decades ago resulted in settlements.
“This Archdiocese and the Diocese of Metuchen received three allegations of sexual misconduct with adults decades ago; two of these allegations resulted in settlements,” Tobin said.
Tobin said the Archdiocese of Newark never received an accusation that Cardinal McCarrick abused a minor.
In a statement on Wednesday, McCarrick, 87, now the retired Archbishop of Washington, D.C., said he accepted his removal.
“While I have absolutely no recollection of this reported abuse, and believe in my innocence, I am sorry for the pain the person who brought the charges has gone through, as well as for the scandal such charges cause our people,” he said.
In his statement, McCarrick said he had been advised several months ago by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, that an allegation of sexual abuse of a teenager from almost fifty-years ago had been made against him.
At that time, he was a priest of the Archdiocese of New York.
“While shocked by the report, and while maintaining my innocence, I considered it essential that the charges be reported to the police, thoroughly investigated by an independent agency, and given to the Review Board of the Archdiocese of New York. I fully cooperated in the process,” he said. “My sadness was deepened when I was informed that the allegations had been determined credible and substantiated.”
He said in obedience, he accepted the decision of The Holy See, that he no longer exercise any public ministry.
“I realize this painful development will shock my many friends, family members, and people I have been honored to serve in my sixty-years as a priest,” he said.
At the Archdiocese of Washington, where McCarrick became a cardinal, church officials said they were shocked by the sexual misconduct allegation.
“While saddened and shocked, this archdiocese awaits the final outcome of the canonical process and in the meantime asks for prayers for all involved,” the Archdiocese of Washington said in a statement. “At the same time, we renew our commitment to care for the victims who have suffered abuse, to prevent abuse before it occurs, and to identify and report child abuse once it has happened.”
McCarrick was bishop of Metuchen from 1981 to 1986, and then served as Newark’s archbishop from 1986 to 2000.
In Metuchen, he was the shepherd of a newly formed diocese, and later would build a $ 13 million archdiocesan center next to the cathedral in Newark. Those who knew him said he used his connections to get Pope John Paul II to Newark in 1995.
He also guided seminarians through the ordination process, ordaining 171 in 14 years as Newark’s archbishop, more than any other American bishop.
While still in Newark, he was looking at retirement when he turn 70. But Pope John Paul II picked him as Washington’s archbishop in late 2000, and in 2001 made him a cardinal.
Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.