The sexual abuse allegations surrounding now-former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick have prompted some church figures to call for a more thorough reckoning of the US Church's clerical sexual abuse policies.
With his resignation on July 28 from the College of Cardinals, McCarrick retains the title of archbishop. However, "his prompt reduction canonically to the laity should be strongly deliberated," said Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth, Texas.
"As each day passes, we learn that the former cardinal not only allegedly perpetrated abuse against minors but also against subordinates including priests, seminarians and members of the laity. The evil effects of these actions were multiplied by the fact that financial settlements were arranged with victims without transparency or restrictions on the former cardinal's ministry," Bishop Olson said.
