Current:Home > ContactEx-cardinal Theodore McCarrick, now 92, not competent to stand trial in sex abuse case, expert says -Apex Capital Strategies
Ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick, now 92, not competent to stand trial in sex abuse case, expert says
View
Date:2025-04-17 21:04:01
Boston — Former Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is not competent to stand trial on charges that he sexually assaulted a teenage boy in Massachusetts decades ago, an expert for the prosecution says, raising doubts about the future of the criminal case against the 92-year-old.
Prosecutors this week disclosed the findings of their expert to the judge, who will ultimately rule on the once-powerful American prelate's ability to face charges that he abused the boy at a wedding reception at Wellesley College in 1974.
McCarrick has maintained that he is innocent and pleaded not guilty in September 2021. He was also charged in April with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man in Wisconsin more than 45 years ago.
In February, McCarrick's attorneys asked the court to dismiss the case, saying a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine had examined him and concluded that he has dementia, likely Alzheimer's disease.
At that time, lawyers said McCarrick had a "limited understanding" of the criminal proceedings against him but that "his progressive and irreparable cognitive deficits render him unable to meaningfully consult with counsel or to effectively assist in his own defense."
Prosecutors later hired their own expert to assess McCarrick, who filed their own report on the man's competency, which has not been made public. The judge set a hearing on the matter for Aug. 30.
McCarrick, who lives in Dittmer, Missouri, was charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. He was not exempt from facing charges because the clock stopped on the statute of limitations when he left Massachusetts.
Mitchell Garabedian, a well-known lawyer for clergy sexual abuse victims who is representing the man accusing McCarrick, said Thursday that his client is "obviously discouraged" by the prosecution expert's findings. He said his client remains determined to continue with lawsuits he has filed in other states.
"By proceeding with the civil lawsuits my client is empowering himself, other clergy sexual abuse victims and making the world a safer place for children," Garabedian said.
The Associated Press generally doesn't identify people who report sexual assault unless they agree to be named publicly, which the victim in this case has not.
The accuser told authorities during a 2021 interview that McCarrick was close to the man's family when he was growing up. Prosecutors say McCarrick would attend family gatherings and travel on vacations with them and that the victim referred to the priest as "Uncle Ted."
Prosecutors say McCarrick abused him over several years including when the boy, who was then 16, was at his brother's wedding reception at Wellesley College.
Prosecutors say McCarrick told the boy his dad wanted him to have a talk with the priest because the boy was "being mischievous at home and not attending church." The man told investigators that they took a walk around campus, and McCarrick groped him before they went back to the party. The man said McCarrick also sexually assaulted him in a coat room after they returned to the reception, authorities wrote in the documents.
Prosecutors say McCarrick told the boy to say the "Hail Mary" and "Our Father" prayers before leaving the room.
Ordained as a priest in New York City in 1958, McCarrick was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation determined he sexually molested adults as well as children. An internal Vatican investigation found that bishops, cardinals and popes downplayed or dismissed reports of sexual misconduct over many years.
The case created a credibility crisis for the church since the Vatican had reports from authoritative cardinals dating to 1999 that McCarrick's behavior was problematic, yet he became an influential cardinal, kingmaker and emissary of the Holy See's "soft diplomacy."
- In:
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Sex Crimes
- Catholic Church
veryGood! (53)
Related
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- 'Civil War' review: Kirsten Dunst leads visceral look at consequences of a divided America
- How to watch 2024 WNBA draft where Caitlin Clark is expected to be No. 1 overall pick
- Dude Perfect's latest trick — sinking up to $300 million in venture money
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- The Daily Money: Inflation across the nation
- Vermont’s Goddard College to close after years of declining enrollment and financial struggles
- USWNT wins SheBelieves Cup after penalty shootout vs. Canada
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Town creates public art ordinance after free speech debate over doughnut mural
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon calls for US to strengthen position as world leader
- Assistant principal charged with felony child abuse in 6-year-old's shooting of teacher
- 'Bridget Jones 4' is officially in the works with Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant returning
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Crews encircle wildfire on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
- My job is classified as salaried, nonexempt: What does that mean? Ask HR
- 2024 NBA mock draft post-March Madness: Donovan Clingan, Zach Edey climb board
Recommendation
Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
Crews encircle wildfire on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
Assistant principal charged with felony child abuse in 6-year-old's shooting of teacher
In striking reversal, low-paid workers saw biggest wage growth during pandemic years
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
Space station crew captures image of moon's shadow during solar eclipse
March Madness winners and losers: ACC, UConn, Cinderellas led NCAA Tournament highlights
University of Washington football player arrested, charged with raping 2 women