Judge Rules Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick Not Competent to Stand Trial for Sexual Assault Charges

A judge in Dedham, Massachusetts ruled Wednesday that former Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, 93, is not competent to stand trial for charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy decades ago. The ruling was made after both prosecutors and defense attorneys determined McCarrick suffers from dementia.

McCarrick was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after an internal Vatican investigation determined he had sexually molested adults and children. The case has created a credibility crisis for the church, as reports from authoritative cardinals dating back to 1999 indicated McCarrick’s behavior was problematic, yet he was still able to become an influential cardinal, kingmaker, and emissary of the Holy See’s “soft diplomacy.”

The judge’s ruling Wednesday means that McCarrick will not face criminal charges for the alleged assault of the teenage boy in Massachusetts. However, the ruling does not affect the Vatican’s decision to defrock McCarrick, which was based on its own investigation.

Theodore McCarrick was the archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2000 to 2006. He was the first cardinal in U.S. history to be defrocked, and his case has sparked a debate about the church’s handling of sexual abuse allegations. The Vatican has yet to comment on the judge’s ruling.