Disgraced former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been expelled from the Roman Catholic priesthood following allegations against him, including sexual abuse of minors, the Vatican said on Saturday. The defrocking was announced ahead of next week's meeting at the Vatican between the heads of national Catholic churches to discuss the global sexual abuse crisis. McCarrick had appealed the decision but it was upheld and Pope Francis said no further appeal would be allowed. The allegations against McCarrick date back to decades ago when he was still rising to the top of the U.S. church hierarchy. He has responded publicly to only one of the allegations, saying he has "absolutely no recollection" of an alleged case of sexual abuse of a 16-year-old boy more than 50 years ago.

Source: The Star February 16, 2019 10:30 UTC