Religion
THEODORE McCARRICK, FORMER ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON, DIES AT 94
Theodore McCarrick, the former Archbishop of Washington who was accused of sexually abusing minors and adults, has died at the age of 94, according to a statement by his successor, Cardinal Robert McElroy. McCarrick passed away on April 3, 2025, at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri.
Cardinal McElroy expressed his thoughts for the victims of McCarrick’s abuse, saying, “At this moment I am especially mindful of those who he harmed during the course of his priestly ministry… Through their enduring pain, may we remain steadfast in our prayers for them and for all victims of sexual abuse.”
McCarrick was ordained a priest in 1958 and went on to become Archbishop of Newark from 1986 to 2000 before being appointed Archbishop of Washington DC. He was made a cardinal in 2001. However, his career was marred by allegations of sexual misconduct, which led to his resignation from the College of Cardinals in 2018 and his dismissal from the priesthood by the Vatican in 2019.
The Vatican report into the McCarrick case found that the late Pope John Paul II had appointed McCarrick Archbishop of Washington, DC, and a cardinal despite being made aware of the allegations of misconduct with adults. The report also found that by 2000, the Vatican was aware that McCarrick had been accused of sexual misconduct with a priest and was known for sharing his bed with young adult men and trainee priests.
McCarrick was later criminally charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, but he was deemed not fit to stand trial due to dementia in 2023.
Pope Leo XIV has strongly condemned the escalating war involving Iran, describing the ongoing conflict as “atrocious violence” and calling on all parties to immediately halt hostilities.
Speaking during his weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Sunday, the pontiff appealed to leaders involved in the conflict to declare a ceasefire and pursue dialogue instead of continued military confrontation.
The appeal comes as the war widely reported to involve strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, entering its third week, leaving thousands of civilians dead or displaced across the Middle East.
“For two weeks, the peoples of the Middle East have been suffering the atrocious violence of war,” the Pope said, warning that violence can not bring justice, stability, or lasting peace to the region.
The Catholic leader expressed solidarity with victims of the conflict, particularly civilians who have lost loved ones or been forced to flee their homes. He emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian support for affected communities.
The Pope also raised concerns about the growing instability in Lebanon, where clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah have worsened the humanitarian situation.
Calling for a diplomatic solution, the pontiff urged global leaders to pursue dialogue that could lead to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Despite maintaining the Vatican’s traditional diplomatic neutrality, the Pope’s comments are seen as one of his strongest appeals yet for an end to the expanding regional conflict.
The Vatican has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego following his arrest on allegations of embezzling $250,000 from his congregation.
Bishop Shaleta, who had served the Chaldean Catholic community since 2017, pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of embezzlement and money laundering during a court hearing on Monday. According to San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero, the alleged offenses occurred in 2024 and were discovered after a church employee reported missing funds, local broadcaster KGTV reported.
Authorities detained Shaleta on March 5 at San Diego International Airport while he was attempting to leave the United States. His lawyer stated that the bishop had planned to travel to Germany.
Chaldean Catholics, while recognizing the authority of the Pope, follow an Eastern Christian liturgical tradition. Vatican statistics estimate approximately 71,000 Chaldean Catholics reside in the San Diego area.
The arrest and resignation have sent shockwaves through the local religious community, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in church financial management.
A shocking breach of protocol occurred during the secret conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV last May, a new book by veteran Vatican reporters reveals.
As 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel for their first vote, which is typically safeguarded by signal-jamming equipment to prevent outside communications, security officials detected an active mobile phone signal inside the chapel.
In a scene the authors describe as “unimaginable even for a film,” one of the older cardinals discovered a cellphone in his pocket and handed it over to security. The book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV, does not identify the cardinal or suggests he had any motive for carrying the phone but notes he was “disoriented and distressed” by the incident.
The incident is unprecedented in the history of modern papal conclaves, which require cardinals to relinquish all communication devices to ensure the election process remains secret.
Pope Leo XIV, elected on the fourth ballot with 108 votes, became the first pope from the United States. The revelation of this security lapse provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the world’s most secretive religious events.