New accusations against “uncle ted”

New accusations against 'uncle ted'

More and more new accusations against the former archbishop of Washington: Theodor E. McCarrick allegedly abused not only adult seminarians but also teenagers. The scandal weighs on the U.S. church.

Once again, the past may be catching up with the U.S. church. And again, it's about a senior dignitary who shaped the liberal face of U.S. Catholicism like no other.

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, 88, who led the Archdiocese of Washington from 2001 to 2006, allegedly abused not only young priest candidates, but at least two minors; perhaps more, according to the Washington Post.

Back in June, it was revealed that the clergyman would no longer be allowed to publicly perform priestly duties on the orders of Pope Francis. The background was the allegation, found credible, that McCarrick was guilty of sexual abuse as a priest 45 years ago.

Wave of indignation

The latest person to file a complaint so far was on 17. July a man with the alias "James" from Virginia ad. Now 60, he claims to have first been victimized by the prominent chaplain at age 11. "I was raised to trust priests and the Catholic Church," alleged abuse victim said in interview. "I was led to believe that she would always help me." Almost simultaneously, three other people came forward.

Weeks ago, revelations of sexual misconduct against adults in the McCarrick case triggered a wave of outrage.

The fact that – according to new information – he is also alleged to have abused children and teenagers now leaves many believers even more speechless.

"Zero tolerance" policy of US bishops' conference bore its stamp

It's almost like the early 2000s when the "Boston Globe" first reported on child abuse in the Catholic Church. McCarrick, of all people, then took the lead in the church's handling of the abuse scandal.

The "zero tolerance" policy of the U.S. bishops' conference in response also bore his stamp. Particularly painful for many U.S. Catholics is that the cardinal was considered a "Pope Francis bishop" because of his special social commitment in his Washington diocese.

The allegations against "Uncle Ted," as he was allegedly known among his victims, are congruent in many ways. Several victims report being invited to the same beach house by McCarrick, alone or in a group. For the night, he said, he designated a companion to share a bed with him.

"I didn't want him to do this. "I didn't like it," says Robert Ciolek, a former priesthood aspirant who recently spoke to The New York Times about the beach house experience. 80.000 dollars the church had paid him in 2004 as compensation. From his perspective, a "cold numbers game" without apology, remorse or sympathy.

Ciolek now works as a lawyer. Others drowned their memories in alcohol, according to their own accounts, also turned their backs on the priesthood. McCarrick, meanwhile, says he can't remember the offenses he was charged with.

Not heeded hints?

The alleged abuses by one of the highest dignitaries of the U.S. church are also causing horror because there are said to have been numerous unheeded tips over the years. For example, the Rev. Boniface Ramsey of New York, as he indicated in interviews, informed the Vatican in the fall of 2000 and orally reported the allegations against McCarrick.

The requested letter to Rome had never been answered. In 2015, they say, Ramsey turned to Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, head of the papal child protection commission since 2014. In this case, too, there had been no comment.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark has met with Ciolek in recent days. The offered the churchman his help in uncovering the scandal, as the "Washington Post" writes. According to the letter, the bishops' conference intends to push for unsparing disclosure. Meanwhile, the first voices are being raised in the U.S. calling on Pope Francis to strip McCarrick of his cardinal title and return him to the lay state.

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Christina Cherry
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