Rorate Caeli

Faithful Mocked: McCarrick Laicized -- While His Closest Friend and Confidant Will Run Next Conclave Setting

Ted McCarrick congratulates his friend Kevin Farrell on his creation as Cardinal

Cardinal Farrell, the closest friend, confidant, auxiliary bishop, and roommate of Ted McCarrick, was named this week Camerlengo. He will run the show when Francis is gone. That is his prize for being the ultimate McCarrick Man.

This all puts in perspective the decision of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released today, condemning the abuser McCarrick to the loss of the clerical state. Basically, it means justice delayed and, with the Farrell nomination, justice mocked.

The CDF communique is below:

On 11 January 2019, the Congresso of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the conclusion of a penal process, issued a decree finding Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., guilty of the following delicts while a cleric: solicitation in the Sacrament of Confession, and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating factor of the abuse of power. The Congresso imposed on him the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state. On 13 February 2019, the Ordinary Session (Feria IV) of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith considered the recourse he presented against this decision. Having examined the arguments in the recourse, the Ordinary Session confirmed the decree of the Congresso. This decision was notified to Theodore McCarrick on 15 February 2019. The Holy Father has recognized the definitive nature of this decision made in accord with law, rendering it a res iudicata (i.e., admitting of no further recourse).