The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests echoed McKiernan’s sentiments. “McCarrick was never held accountable for his crimes,” the organization wrote in a statement, and instead “was promoted, celebrated, and shielded by legions of bishops, cardinals, and even popes. Many of those same officials remain in positions of power today, unaccountable and unrepentant.”
Last month, SNAP announced an advocacy effort called Conclave Watch to raise awareness around the abuse records of several cardinals and to demand a universal, zero-tolerance law.
Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, left, arrives at Dedham District Court, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
“There is no reason to believe the next conclave won’t include more McCarricks — influencing, protecting, and electing one of their own, just like he did at the last conclave,” said Peter Isely, chair of the SNAP global advocacy working group. “That’s why the public must know who these candidates are.”
The shadow of McCarrick’s abuse has continued to hang over both the Washington and Newark archdioceses, as Cardinals McElroy and Tobin have faced accusations that they mishandled matters relating to McCarrick.
Tobin has recently faced blowback for promoting Monsignor Joseph Reilly as president of Seton Hall University. Reilly, who once served as a priest-secretary to McCarrick, has been accused of mishandling abuse allegations. In February, Tobin announced a third-party review of the 2019 investigation that implicated Reilly.
McElroy has been accused of ignoring warnings from whistleblower and researcher Richard Sipe about McCarrick’s abuse in 2016. The cardinal has said he took Sipe’s warnings seriously but that Sipe behaved in an untrustworthy manner when approaching him with the accusations, refusing to provide corroborating evidence and delivering a letter through a process server who impersonated a donor.
Written by Aleja Hertzler-McCain and Claire Giangravé
This story has been updated and corrected to better reflect McCarrick’s resignation from the College of Cardinals.
This article originally appeared here.
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