Former Cardinal McCarrick, Defrocked for Abuse, Dies at 94

WASHINGTON Theodore McCarrick, a former Catholic cardinal who rose to become one of the most influential figures in the American church, died Friday. He was 94 years old. McCarrick was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation concluded that allegations of sexual abuse against him were credible. The investigation found that McCarrick had sexually abused both adults and children over a period of decades.

Archbishop of Washington Robert McElroy confirmed McCarrick's death. Details surrounding his passing were not immediately released.

McCarrick's fall from grace was a major scandal for the Catholic Church, which has been grappling with a global crisis of sexual abuse allegations. His defrocking marked a significant step in the church's efforts to address the issue and hold abusers accountable.

The allegations against McCarrick first surfaced publicly in 2018, leading to a series of investigations and ultimately his removal from the priesthood. The Vatican's investigation concluded that McCarrick had engaged in 'solicitation in the Sacrament of Confession, and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults.'

McCarrick's death brings a somber close to a life marked by both power and scandal, and serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing the Catholic Church.