WASHINGTON — Theodore McCarrick, a former prominent figure in the Catholic Church and a one-time cardinal who was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019, has passed away at the age of 94. McCarrick's death was confirmed by Archbishop Robert McElroy of Washington in a statement issued on Friday, which emphasized the impact of his actions on countless victims. The exact details surrounding McCarrick's death, which occurred the day before the announcement, have not been disclosed.

In his statement, Archbishop McElroy expressed a deep concern for those who suffered due to McCarrick's actions during his long tenure in the priesthood. “At this moment I am especially mindful of those who he harmed during the course of his priestly ministry,” McElroy stated poignantly. He urged the faithful to keep in their prayers not only the victims of McCarrick but all those affected by the trauma of sexual abuse within the Church.

Recent court proceedings revealed that McCarrick had been diagnosed with dementia and had been living in Missouri at the time of his death. Vatican News has reported that he passed away in that state, marking the end of a life that was once influential yet deeply marred by scandal.

The McCarrick scandal has left a significant stain on the Catholic Church's credibility, primarily due to revelations that both Vatican and U.S. church leaders were aware of McCarrick's sexual misconduct, particularly regarding seminarians, yet chose to ignore it. This oversight allowed McCarrick to ascend to one of the highest ranks within the Church, becoming an adept fundraiser and advisor to three different popes over the years.

In 2020, the Vatican released an extensive report detailing its investigation into McCarrick and the systemic failures that allowed his behavior to go unchecked for decades. The report largely placed blame on the late Pope John Paul II, who appointed McCarrick as the archbishop of Washington, D.C., despite knowing of allegations against him. This contradictory appraisal of McCarrick’s character stemmed from a handwritten letter in which he denied any sexual relations, stating, “I have made mistakes and may have sometimes lacked in prudence, but in the seventy years of my life I have never had sexual relations with any person, male or female, young or old, cleric or lay.”

Over the years, numerous bishops, cardinals, and even popes have been accused of minimizing or disregarding reports of McCarrick's inappropriate conduct with young men, which only further enabled his rise through the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

The investigation revealed heartbreaking testimonies from individuals who attempted to alert church authorities about McCarrick’s misconduct, which allegedly included inappropriate behavior with children as early as the mid-1980s. While the findings provided new insights into the Vatican's knowledge and actions, they fell short of directly addressing the entrenched culture within the Church that allowed McCarrick's behavior to persist.

Cardinals and bishops have long enjoyed a reputation beyond reproach, and claims of homosexual behavior were often dismissed or used to discredit those who spoke out. This, coupled with a widespread unspoken acceptance of sexually active men in a profession expected to adhere to celibacy, contributed to the ongoing crisis within the Church.

The report drew on a wealth of documentation from various Vatican departments, U.S. dioceses, and seminaries, as well as the Vatican’s U.S. Embassy. Investigators conducted interviews with 90 individuals, including McCarrick’s victims, former seminarians and priests, and leaders from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, expressed frustration over McCarrick’s death. Peter Isely, a founding member of the organization, lamented that although McCarrick was defrocked, he never faced trial for the extensive harm he caused. “McCarrick may be dead, but his many victims are not,” Isely stated. “We are still here, still living with the harm he caused — and with the church's failure to stop him.”

During his tenure as archbishop of Washington from 2000 to 2006, McCarrick was one of the highest-ranking church officials embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal that continues to affect thousands of priests. Known for his extensive travels, exceptional fundraising abilities, and proficiency in multiple languages, McCarrick was a significant figure within the Church. His career began in New York City in 1958 after his ordination, followed by his appointment as bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1981, and later as archbishop of Newark in 1986. He was elevated to cardinal in 2001 and participated in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. McCarrick also presided over the memorial service for Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009 and celebrated Mass with Pope Francis during the latter's visit to Washington in 2015.