91-year-old Theodore McCarrick, a former US cardinal&nbsp;has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage boy,&nbsp;making him the highest-ranking Roman Catholic official to face criminal charges in the scandal surrounding clergy abuse.

As detailed in a district court filing in Massachusetts, the former archbishop is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery against a child over 14.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-vatican-covered-up-archbishop-theodore-mccarrick-teen-sexual-assault-case-342481">How Vatican covered up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick teen sexual assault case</a>

McCarrick, the highest-ranking church figure to be expelled by the Vatican in modern history, was found guilty by the Vatican of sexually abusing one teenage boy in the 1970s and sexual misconduct with adult male seminarians.

According to prosecutors, McCarrick groped the victim as he walked around Wellesley College in Massachusetts during his brother's wedding reception in 1974 when the victim was 16 years old.

The criminal complaint says McCarrick led the victim into a room and groped his genitals while "saying prayers."

He was stripped of his cardinal's title in 2018 before losing his priestly status the following year. McCarrick was instrumental in raising funds for the Holy See from wealthy US donors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vatican-dismisses-former-us-cardinal-over-sexual-abuse-allegations-197897">Vatican dismisses former US cardinal over sexual abuse allegations</a>

The Vatican published a 450-page report in 2020 concluding McCarrick was able to rise through the ranks of the Church despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

It was revealed last November that late John Paul II ignored advice not to promote McCarrick due to rumours of sexual assault that were later proven to be true.

Although several civil lawsuits have been filed against the former cardinal, this is the first criminal case filed against him.

Mitchell Garabedian, the man's lawyer, said his client exhibited great courage in filing the complaint adding that this is the first&nbsp;case where a cardinal was criminally charged with sexual assault against a minor in the United States.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cardinal-steps-down-amid-mushrooming-sex-abuse-scandal-155328">US cardinal steps down amid mushrooming sex abuse scandal</a>

On the other hand, Barry Coburn, McCarrick's attorney, says that the two are eager to face the case in court.

Several scandals involving child sexual abuse have rocked the Catholic Church in recent years.&nbsp;

In 2018, an investigation into Pennsylvania dioceses found that over 300 predator priests committed sexual abuse of children on more than 1,000 children, all of which was covered up.

According to the site bishop-accountability.org, there were 18500 complaints filed against 6,700 clergies between 1950 and 2016.

In the US, several senior church members, including the late cardinal Bernard Law, have resigned for protecting and supporting sex offender priests.

(With inputs from agencies)

91-year-old Theodore McCarrick, a former US cardinal has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage boy, making him the highest-ranking Roman Catholic official to face criminal charges in the scandal surrounding clergy abuse.

91-year-old Theodore McCarrick, a former US cardinal has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage boy, making him the highest-ranking Roman Catholic official to face criminal charges in the scandal surrounding clergy abuse. As detailed in a district court filing in Massachusetts, the former archbishop is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery against a child over 14. Also read | How Vatican covered up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick teen sexual assault case McCarrick, the highest-ranking church figure to be expelled by the Vatican in modern history, was found guilty by the Vatican of sexually abusing one teenage boy in the 1970s and sexual misconduct with adult male seminarians. According to prosecutors, McCarrick groped the victim as he walked around Wellesley College in Massachusetts during his brother's wedding reception in 1974 when the victim was 16 years old. The criminal complaint says McCarrick led the victim into a room and groped his genitals while "saying prayers." He was stripped of his cardinal's title in 2018 before losing his priestly status the following year. McCarrick was instrumental in raising funds for the Holy See from wealthy US donors. Also read | Vatican dismisses former US cardinal over sexual abuse allegations The Vatican published a 450-page report in 2020 concluding McCarrick was able to rise through the ranks of the Church despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him. It was revealed last November that late John Paul II ignored advice not to promote McCarrick due to rumours of sexual assault that were later proven to be true. Although several civil lawsuits have been filed against the former cardinal, this is the first criminal case filed against him. Mitchell Garabedian, the man's lawyer, said his client exhibited great courage in filing the complaint adding that this is the first case where a cardinal was criminally charged with sexual assault against a minor in the United States. Also read | US cardinal steps down amid mushrooming sex abuse scandal On the other hand, Barry Coburn, McCarrick's attorney, says that the two are eager to face the case in court. Several scandals involving child sexual abuse have rocked the Catholic Church in recent years. In 2018, an investigation into Pennsylvania dioceses found that over 300 predator priests committed sexual abuse of children on more than 1,000 children, all of which was covered up. According to the site bishop-accountability.org, there were 18500 complaints filed against 6,700 clergies between 1950 and 2016. In the US, several senior church members, including the late cardinal Bernard Law, have resigned for protecting and supporting sex offender priests. (With inputs from agencies)

Defrocked US cardinal charged with sexual abuse

Archbishop of Washington Theodore McCarrick molested a 16-year-old in 1971 and it was covered up.

Instead of being punished, the cardinal was promoted. Pope John Paul-II&nbsp;who was the previous Pope gave him a promotion even when there were persistent complaints against McCarrick.

Pope Francis faces the same charge but, in 2018, he ordered an investigation against McCarrick which was a welcome step but much delayed.

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The probe came more than 45 years after the first case of abuse and more than two decades after the first complaint.

"The McCarrick report is remarkable because it points to failings by a succession of Popes, particularly John Paul-II and Benedict XVI, who allowed Mccarrick, along with Vatican officials to rise through the ranks of the church in the United States, despite the fact that there were consistent rumours that he had practised sexual misconduct with adult seminarians," Philip Pullella, Reuters Vatican correspondent, said.

The Vatican's dirty linen is being washed in public now. Archbishop Luigi Ventura, former ambassador of the Pope to France has been accused by four men of sexual assault. A trial kicked off in Paris without the accused with the archbishop not present.

A sexual assault trial for the Vatican's former ambassador to France went ahead without him Tuesday after he produced a doctor’s note saying it was too dangerous for him to travel from Rome to Paris in the midst of France’s resurgent coronavirus epidemic.

Apparently, it's too dangerous for him to travel from Rome to Paris due to the Wuhan virus. The Archbishop's lawyers produced a doctor's note in his defence. The trial has started without him.

Pope Francis spoke out for the first time today but comments were limited to the McCarrick case. Once again he pledged to rid the Catholic church of sexual abuse.

"Yesterday the report on the painful case of ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick was published. I renew my closeness to the victims of all abuse and I renew the efforts of the church to eradicate this evil," Pope Francis said.

The Pope's response is far from adequate. Last year, in America alone, it was found that almost 1,700 priests and clergy accused of sex abuse were unsupervised, add the cases from around the world and the number of accused is staggering and the revelations shocking.

These are not men of God, these are predators. They should be tried in public by a court of law and not behind a veil of secrecy in the Vatican.

Archbishop of Washington Theodore McCarrick molested a 16-year-old in 1971 and it was covered up. Instead of being punished, the cardinal was promoted. Pope John Paul-II who was the previous Pope gave him a promotion even when there were persistent complaints against McCarrick.

Archbishop of Washington Theodore McCarrick molested a 16-year-old in 1971 and it was covered up. Instead of being punished, the cardinal was promoted. Pope John Paul-II who was the previous Pope gave him a promotion even when there were persistent complaints against McCarrick. Pope Francis faces the same charge but, in 2018, he ordered an investigation against McCarrick which was a welcome step but much delayed. The probe came more than 45 years after the first case of abuse and more than two decades after the first complaint. "The McCarrick report is remarkable because it points to failings by a succession of Popes, particularly John Paul-II and Benedict XVI, who allowed Mccarrick, along with Vatican officials to rise through the ranks of the church in the United States, despite the fact that there were consistent rumours that he had practised sexual misconduct with adult seminarians," Philip Pullella, Reuters Vatican correspondent, said. The Vatican's dirty linen is being washed in public now. Archbishop Luigi Ventura, former ambassador of the Pope to France has been accused by four men of sexual assault. A trial kicked off in Paris without the accused with the archbishop not present. A sexual assault trial for the Vatican's former ambassador to France went ahead without him Tuesday after he produced a doctor’s note saying it was too dangerous for him to travel from Rome to Paris in the midst of France’s resurgent coronavirus epidemic. Apparently, it's too dangerous for him to travel from Rome to Paris due to the Wuhan virus. The Archbishop's lawyers produced a doctor's note in his defence. The trial has started without him. Pope Francis spoke out for the first time today but comments were limited to the McCarrick case. Once again he pledged to rid the Catholic church of sexual abuse. "Yesterday the report on the painful case of ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick was published. I renew my closeness to the victims of all abuse and I renew the efforts of the church to eradicate this evil," Pope Francis said. The Pope's response is far from adequate. Last year, in America alone, it was found that almost 1,700 priests and clergy accused of sex abuse were unsupervised, add the cases from around the world and the number of accused is staggering and the revelations shocking. These are not men of God, these are predators. They should be tried in public by a court of law and not behind a veil of secrecy in the Vatican.

How Vatican covered up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick teen sexual assault case

Pope John Paul II promoted ex-U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2000 despite rumours of his sexual misconduct, a Vatican report found, one of a series of failings by popes and officials who let him rise through the ranks regardless of repeated allegations against him.

Report into disgraced ex U.S. cardinal shows failings by popes