A judge in Dedham, Massachusetts, has ruled that former Roman Catholic cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who is now 93 years old, is not mentally competent to stand trial for charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy decades ago. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that McCarrick suffers from dementia. The charges against him have been dismissed.
McCarrick, who was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019, faced allegations of sexual abuse from adults and children. The Vatican had received reports about his behavior since 1999, but he continued to hold influential positions within the church. This case raised concerns about the credibility of the Catholic Church and its handling of sexual abuse cases.
During the hearing, a psychologist hired by the prosecution testified that McCarrick’s memory deficits were significant and that his condition was unlikely to improve. His inability to remember discussions prevented him from participating in his defense.
McCarrick has always maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, in April, he was also charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man in Wisconsin over 45 years ago. His attorneys argued in February that he has dementia, likely Alzheimer’s disease, which limited his understanding of the criminal proceedings.
Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer representing the alleged victim, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and highlighted the lasting impact of McCarrick’s actions on clergy sexual abuse victims.
The identity of the victim in this case has not been disclosed, as is the general practice with sexual assault cases. For support and resources related to sexual assault, individuals can visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
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