The Cardinal expelled Theodore McCarrick, ancient Archbishop of Washington (USA), declared this Friday not guilty before a three-charged court of sexual assault on a child under 16 during the reception of a wedding in 1974.
McCarrick, 91 years old and considered one of the most powerful cardinals of the American Episcopan, first appeared in public since 2018 to appear before the District Court of Dedham in Boston (Massachusetts).
He walked with a walker and without habits, since he was expelled from the priesthood two years ago, while the crowd gathered outside the court shouting him “I should give you ashamed.”
During the view, he did not speak and he was his lawyer who presented the statement of “not guilty” on his behalf.
The judge ordered the payment of a bail of 5,000 dollars;
Forbade any contact with the victim, who is now over 60, and with minors;
And he asked him to deliver her passport.
The next judicial hearing has been set for October 28.
The prosecution maintains that McCarrick allegedly abused the adolescent in the room where the coats were saved during the wedding of the victim’s brother in Wellesley (Massachusetts).
McCarrick is the only Catholic Cardinal in the US. To which criminal charges have been imputed for sexual abuse to minors.
Several men submitted demands against him in New York and New Jersey for alleged abuses when they were children, but those crimes reported have prescribed according to the laws of those states.
In the case of Massachusetts, on the other hand, the police could present charges because when the facts occurred he was not a resident in that state, and the prescription rules of crimes ceased to apply when he returned to his housing then.
In February 2019, the Vatican of expelled from the McCarrick priesthood, after the congregation for the doctrine of faith considered him guilty of abuses at minors and adults with the aggravating abuse of power.
Already by then he had been separated by the Pope of the Cardinal School and had been ordered to remain separated from his functions and held until the accusations of sexual abuse against him were clarified in a canonical trial.
