Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Pope defrocks ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick over abuse claims
Source: The Guardian
Pope defrocks ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick over abuse claims
Ex-archbishop of Washington DC is most senior figure to be removed from priesthood in modern times
Harriet Sherwood Religion correspondent
Sat 16 Feb 2019 11.18 GMT
A former Roman Catholic archbishop and cardinal has been dismissed from the priesthood after the Vatican found him guilty of sexually abusing minors in a sign of an increasingly hardline stance taken by the church.
Theodore McCarrick, 88, one of the prominent figures in the church, was defrocked just days before an unprecedented global summit of bishops to discuss child sexual abuse is convened by the Vatican.
The Vatican’s move makes McCarrick the most senior figure to be removed from the priesthood in modern times. He will no longer be permitted to act as a cleric, and is forbidden to celebrate the sacraments except to grant absolution for sins to a person close to death. Only excommunication is a more severe punishment.
Pope Francis has approved the action as “definitive”, meaning McCarrick will not be allowed to appeal, the Vatican said on Saturday.
-snip-
Ex-archbishop of Washington DC is most senior figure to be removed from priesthood in modern times
Harriet Sherwood Religion correspondent
Sat 16 Feb 2019 11.18 GMT
A former Roman Catholic archbishop and cardinal has been dismissed from the priesthood after the Vatican found him guilty of sexually abusing minors in a sign of an increasingly hardline stance taken by the church.
Theodore McCarrick, 88, one of the prominent figures in the church, was defrocked just days before an unprecedented global summit of bishops to discuss child sexual abuse is convened by the Vatican.
The Vatican’s move makes McCarrick the most senior figure to be removed from the priesthood in modern times. He will no longer be permitted to act as a cleric, and is forbidden to celebrate the sacraments except to grant absolution for sins to a person close to death. Only excommunication is a more severe punishment.
Pope Francis has approved the action as “definitive”, meaning McCarrick will not be allowed to appeal, the Vatican said on Saturday.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/16/pope-defrocks-ex-cardinal-theodore-mccarrick-over-abuse-claims
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
What a way to get awakened. 
