WASHINGTON, United States — Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s rise through the Catholic Church hierarchy, during which he established a reputation as a globe-trotting human rights advocate before being brought down by sex abuse scandals, began as an altar boy in New York City. The church also acknowledged that it had made previously undisclosed financial settlements with adults who accused McCarrick of sexual misconduct decades ago. In November 2000, he was tapped by Pope John Paul II to lead the Archdiocese of Washington. Boniface Ramsay, informed the Vatican in a letter about McCarrick’s misconduct with seminarians from Seton Hall University’s Immaculate Conception Seminary. McCarrick was also a major fundraiser for the Catholic Church, overseeing successful capitol campaigns for both of his archdioceses and helping to co-found the Papal Foundation, a major U.S. fundraising initiative that targeted wealthy American Catholics.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 16, 2019 22:52 UTC