Pope Francis has defrocked disgraced U.S. ex-cardinal and former Archbishop
of Washington, Theodore McCarrick. So he is no longer a cleric.
The unprecedented action marks the first time a US cardinal or bishop has
been defrocked or made a lay person from the Roman Catholic
Church. Laicization strips a person of all priestly identity and also
revokes church-sponsored resources like housing and financial benefits.
McCarrick has been expelled following an investigation into multiple sex
abuse allegations.
On 11 Jan 2019, the canonical investigation found McCarrick guilty of "sins
against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults."
McCarrick served the Washington diocese from 1981 to 1986.
Pope Francis has been acting tougher in cases of clerical sex abuse which
has spread worldwide. Bishops, and even cardinals are no longer immune to
punishment. The respect previously shown to bishops no longer applies.
The fact is that sexual abuse, mainly of minors, has long become an epidemic
in the Catholic Church which keeps claiming it is Holy and protected by the
Holy Ghost. So is the Holy Ghost on holiday?
The Pope has long been cautious about taking strong action against a white
American Bishop. On the other hand, the Church did not hesitate to
EXCOMMUNICATE Sri Lankan theologian Fr Tissa Balasuriya in Jan 1997 under
the recommendation of the racist head of the body investigating doctrine,
Cardinal Ratzinger who was to become Pope Benedict XVI.
Read more:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/In-Revolutionary-Move-Pope-Francis-Defrocks-US-Ex-Cardinal-20190216-0007.html
Eddie
