DC Cardinal Accused of Sexual Abuse Passes Away

Theodore McCarrick, Removed in 2019, Never Faced a Criminal Trial

Ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick faced serious sexual abuse claims from at least 12 minors. This information comes from sources before the Vatican removed him from the clergy.

Before Pope Francis removed McCarrick from the ministry in 2019, he was one of America’s most powerful Catholic cardinals. He led the Archdiocese of Washington from 2000 to 2006, during which time multiple survivors came forward.

His fame and status hid a long history of sexual abuse against minors that started in the 1970s.

The Yost Legal Group believes survivors. Our compassionate sexual assault lawyers and legal team are here to listen.

If you are a sexual abuse survivor and were sexually molested by a priest in Maryland, contact our clergy abuse lawyers.

Maryland church sexual abuse claims

Standing Up For Survivors of Church Sexual Abuse Against Minors

In February 2025, the Maryland Supreme Court upheld the Child Victims Act. The Yost Legal Group continues to fight for justice for those who have faced institutional sexual abuse.

We are currently representing hundreds of survivors. They all have credible claims against various institutions, including the Archdiocese of Washington.

Call us for a free and confidential consultation with a sexual abuse lawyer. Call or text The Yost Legal Group at 410-659-6800 today.

We will listen to you and provide support. An attorney for sexual abuse will hold the Archdiocese of Washington accountable. You may seek justice for the harm caused by the clergy.

sexual abuse in a church requires an attorney for sexual abuse like The Yost Legal Group

Maryland vs. DC: How Child Victims Laws Differ for Abuse Survivors

The District of Columbia does not have a Maryland Child Victims Act. This act removed the time limit for childhood sexual abuse survivors. The 2018 amendment to DC’s Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations changed the rules. Now, victims can file civil claims until they are 40 years old.

DC Law 22-311, § 12–301. Limitation of time for bringing actions, [(a)]: “(11) for the recovery of damages arising out of sexual abuse that occurred when the victim was less than 35 years of age— the date the victim attains the age of 40 years…

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the District of Columbia have a deadline. They must file their claims before they turn 40. This is important to avoid losing their right to sue.

The Archdiocese of Washington operates 144 parishes across six territories. Five of those territories are within southern Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s.

Anyone harmed by a member of the Archdiocese of Washington as a minor, within Maryland, qualifies under Maryland’s laws and statutes.

If you were sexually abused as a minor in Maryland by a member of the Archdiocese of Washington, it does not matter how old you are now. You still have time to bring a civil case against the Church. You are not alone.

According to the most recent data from Catholic-Hierarchy.org, the Archdiocese of Washington oversees more than 680,000 worshipers. As such, given the position of power and trust, the archdiocese has a duty to protect every one of its parishioners. Especially from its own abusive clergy members.

Unfortunately, the sad reality is that the Archdiocese of Washington was negligent in its duty. They have exhibited a pattern of child sex abuse, not just with this archdiocese but with the Catholic Church in general.

sexual assault of a minor requires an experienced sexual assault lawyer

Late Ex-Cardinal Theodore “Uncle Ted” McCarrick

James became a victim of sexual abuse by Father Theodore McCarrick. The sexual assault of a minor causes post-traumatic stress disorder. As a victim of sexual assault, James took legal action and filed an abuse case. Priest molestation is sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

According to James, he called himself “Uncle Ted.” His family had been close friends with Father McCarrick before James was even born.

In the spring of 1958, Father McCarrick, nearly 28 years old and just two weeks ordained, baptized James at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly, NJ.

Eleven years later, after James had moved to California with his family, the grooming began. Father McCarrick visited often. James was struggling in school and with the move. The family thought McCarrick could help.

James said the physical sexual abuse began when he was 13 years old, when the priest first touched his penis.

James would not tell anyone of his abuse by Father Theodore McCarrick until decades later. At one point, he did tell his biological uncle, who, according to James, told him “to take the secret to his grave.” His uncle and “Uncle Ted” were friends. Both are now deceased.

James may have been the first, but he was not the last. Sexual abuse in the church causes sexual assault survivors years of PTSD.

He Told His Young Victims to Call Him Uncle Ted

1969 New York Appointment. In 1969, Cardinal Terence Cooke recalled McCarrick to New York after a multi-year stint in Puerto Rico.

In the winter of 1971, John Doe was 16 years old. At that time, McCarrick was a priest in the Archdiocese of New York. Doe was a student at Cathedral Prep Seminary, wanting to become a priest.

In the sacristy at the Manhattan seminary’s cathedral, McCarrick sexually abused Doe for the first time. According to Doe’s lawyer, whenever McCarrick saw the teen, he would tell him how good-looking he was.

Then, in the winter of 1972, McCarrick cornered the boy in a bathroom: “He just came in, grabbed him, shoved his hand into his pants, and tried to get his hand into his underwear. The kid had to struggle and push him away,’ the lawyer said.”

1981 New Jersey Appointment: From there, McCarrick continued to rise through the ranks of the Catholic Church quickly. In the winter of 1981, the Church made him the first bishop of the new Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey.

Those who knew him and observed his behavior said he was friendly with all of the seminarians he was in charge of. Still, he did play favorites:

From Newark to New York: The Dark Legacy of Archbishop McCarrick

Beach House Visits: [McCarrick] would invite a few he especially favored to overnight stays at a beach house in Sea Girt, NJ

Mr. Ciolek, a young seminarian who got those beach house invites, told The New York Times in 2018. He explained how McCarrick would “assign sleeping arrangements.” He would choose one guest each night to share his room, which had one large bed.

Ciolek also detailed how McCarrick would initiate contact with the young men’s lower backs or thighs, much to some people’s disgust.

Another seminarian from the Sea Girt trips shared more details about McCarrick’s abuses in the 1980s. This person asked to remain unnamed. This was during his rapid rise to power.

1986 Newark NJ: In the spring of 1986, Pope John Paul II made Bishop McCarrick the Archbishop of Newark. This diocese was one of the largest in the country, with over one million Catholic parishioners.

The “Beach House Doe,” however, would be sexually abused by McCarrick in 1987 in a small New York City apartment above a hospital, according to reporting by The Times in 2018:

There, Archbishop McCarrick asked the seminarian to change into a striped sailor shirt and a pair of shorts he had on hand, and joined him in bed, according to the seminarian’s written account. ‘He put his arms around me and wrapped his legs between mine,.”

He also wrote that he once saw Archbishop McCarrick having sex with a young priest in a cabin … and that the archbishop invited him to be ‘next.'”

The “Beach House Doe’s” former priest’s file also included handwritten notes from McCarrick, which he signed “Uncle Ted” or “Uncle T.”

With Warnings Ignored, McCarrick Continues Ascent

Mr. Ciolek was a young seminarian. McCarrick made him share a bed during beach house visits. Ciolek “trusted … confided in … [and] admired” McCarrick. McCarrick used his power to take advantage of young, impressionable, and vulnerable boys and young men like Ciolek.

McCarrick also used the intimate knowledge he had gained from Ciolek to keep him further under his thumb. Ciolek revealed to McCarrick that he was a survivor of sexual abuse by a teacher in his Catholic high school.

Instead of giving the vulnerable young person advice and guidance, McCarrick retraumatized him repeatedly.

The handwritten letters in Ciolek’s former priest’s file also revealed that “Uncle Ted” referred to the members of his young beach house overnight trips as “nephew.” Per one letter, McCarrick wrote to Ciolek in the late ’80s:

“I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that we had the chance to get together this summer. It wasn’t as often as I would have liked, but I know how ‘social’ my nephew is!”

It is not illogical to surmise that even if Ciolek had come forward back then, the Church would have ignored him.

Your Voice Matters: Confidential Support for Survivors of Abuse

“Beach House Doe” filed the first documented complaint against McCarrick, giving his confession in the process.

He wrote a letter to the new bishop at Metuchen, the one who succeeded McCarrick, revealing that the archbishop had “inappropriately touched him and other seminarians in the 1980s.”

“Beach House Doe” went on to reveal that the instances of sexual abuse he survived and the trauma they caused “triggered him to touch two 15-year-old boys inappropriately.” He did something wrong. He needed to confess.

For his troubles, the Church put the then-priest in therapy and transferred him to a new parish—standard practice. There is little evidence to suggest they spoke with McCarrick after receiving “Beach House Doe’s” complaint.

Empowering Survivors to Seek Justice, One Story at a Time

In this case, there was no accountability. Instead, in 1995, the Church gave McCarrick the honor of hosting Pope John Paul II during his visit to Newark. The archbishop was also responsible for leading a large public mass for the pope’s visit.

A few years later, Mr. Ciolek received a surprise call. It was from the office of the Metuchen diocese. McCarrick’s former secretary from Metuchen wanted to meet with Ciolek.

At this meeting, the former secretary asked Ciolek directly if he had any plans to sue the diocese. He even mentioned McCarrick by name.

“‘ And I literally laughed, and I said, no,’ Mr. Ciolek said, adding that the monsignor responded with a sigh of relief.”

Within a year, Pope John Paul II promoted Archbishop McCarrick. He left his station in Newark to lead the Archdiocese of Washington. Three months after that, they appointed McCarrick as a cardinal.

All of this happened despite a warning from a priest in New Jersey. The NJ priest had heard several first-hand accounts from seminarians about the sexual abuses by McCarrick. Many committed against underage boys at his beach house.

Despite a direct phone call with the pope’s representative and a written letter submitted to the Vatican, the priest never received a response.

If you or a loved one is the survivor of sexual abuse by a member of the Archdiocese of Washington, you may have a case. The experienced clergy sexual abuse lawyers at The Yost Legal Group are here to help you seek the justice you deserve. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation: 1-800-YOST-LAW.

Warnings Dismissed: McCarrick’s Presence at the Heart of the Vatican

In 2002, the pope, who would pass away just three years later, summoned McCarrick and other cardinals to help manage the Church’s PR crisis as reports of sexual abuse within the Church reached a fever pitch.

He was a voting member of the papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI after John Paul II’s passing in 2005.

In 2006, McCarrick retired as the archbishop of Washington. He was 75, the traditional retirement age for bishops. He remained a highly regarded cardinal.

In 2013, he participated in the cardinals’ meetings held before the conclave that elected Pope Francis.

Though he was active in major Vatican events and served as a leader in many high-profile funerals in DC, McCarrick seemed to have receded from the public eye.

As an “unofficial ambassador,” the Vatican sent him around the world to East Asian and the Middle East, regions where the Church couldn’t necessarily send “official ambassadors.”

A quiet life of travel and meetings could not last forever for McCarrick. His past and the renewed focus on the Catholic Church’s crimes in the 2010s made that impossible.

The Price of Silence: McCarrick’s Influence in the Catholic Church

In the spring of 2018, McCarrick (then 87) released a statement announcing his retirement from the College of Cardinals after advice from the Church.

Months prior, the Church had received another credible claim from a John Doe. The claim stated that McCarrick committed sexual abuse. John Doe said he was 16 in 1971 at Cathedral Prep Seminary in New York.

In July 2018, the pope accepted McCarrick’s resignation. He ordered him to commit to “a life of prayer and penance in seclusion.”

Seven months later, in February 2019, the Vatican defrocked McCarrick. To date, he is still the highest-ranking member of the Catholic Church expelled for sexual abuse.

McCarrick was found guilty by a church tribunal. The Vatican’s official statement read that the former cardinal was guilty of the following:

“solicitation in the Sacrament of Confession and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating factor of the abuse of power.”

The Catholic Church made its full 461-page report on ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick public in November 2020. This occurred nearly two years after they removed him from the ministry.

Somehow, despite over 30 years of allegations, rumors, and whispers, the Church found the pervasiveness of McCarrick’s abuses surprising.

“I have blown the whistle for 30 years and got nowhere,” said the New Jersey priest. He contacted the Vatican before McCarrick became a cardinal. The justice system failed so many young boys against sexual harassment and physical injury.

Confidential Support for Survivors of Clergy Abuse—We’re Here for You

Theodor McCarrick died on April 3, 2025. He was 94 years old. McCarrick has a long history of sexually abusing minors and adults for over 30 years in the Catholic Church. Yet, he never faced any criminal charges.

We know this is a sensitive and challenging matter. Our sexual assault attorneys understand that many survivors may never want to come forward. However, at The Yost Legal Group, we want you to know that we are here for you.

Our sexual abuse attorneys are here to listen whenever you are ready to share your story. All consultations with our experienced lawyers for sexual abuse are free and confidential. Your traumatic experiences have caused significant pain and suffering in your life.

If you have allegations of sexual abuse and are ready to talk, we are here to listen. Call or text The Yost Legal Group at 410-659-6800.

The caring legal team at The Yost Legal Group has successfully sued the Archdiocese of Baltimore. They are helping survivors get settlements. If you or a loved one is a survivor, it is important to speak with a legal professional soon. Call or text The Yost Legal Group today at 410-659-6800.

Priest Sexual Abuse – Maryland Church Sexual Abuse – Catholic Church Abuse Claims

Sexual Trauma Therapy – Sexual Abuse Therapy – Lawyers for Survivors

Baltimore Catholic High School Sexual Abuse Claims

 for Sexual Abuse Survivors at Catholic High School in Baltimore

CNN recently ran a story about four real-life survivor’s accounts of rampant sexual abuse against young girls in Baltimore. Four survivors shared their stories more than 50 years after priests brutally, physically, and sexually assaulted them.

It happened repeatedly at an all-girls Catholic high school in Baltimore. Sexual abuse is a heinous crime that leaves lasting scars on survivors.

Such was the case with the abuses that happened for decades at Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Four survivors courageously shared their stories of physical and sexual assaults that they endured at the hands of priests.

Their accounts are harrowing and shed light on the rampant abuse that went on in the Catholic church unchecked for decades.

Uncovering the Truth of Archbishop Keough High School

Father Joseph Maskell, the school’s chaplain, was the ringmaster of the abuse at Archbishop Keough High School. In addition to Maskell, other priests, and a counselor were also involved in statutory rape and other atrocities.

They would lure the young girls into the school’s chapel, where they would physically molest and sexually assault them. They also used hot wax and bestiality, forcing the girls to participate in Satanic rituals.

They would lure the young girls into the school's chapel, where they would physically molest and sexually assault them.

The sex crimes and sexual offenses were not limited to the school. The child molestation also occurred at Maskell’s vacation home in Maryland and a church in another state. None of these young girls were at the age of consent.

Sexual assault by church leaders has left long-term emotional trauma and PTSD for hundreds of women.

A number of brave survivors who spoke to CNN gave graphic details of their abuse at the hands of these priests. One survivor said that Maskell told her he was exorcising demons from her, but instead, he was abusing her.

The girls subjected to this abuse had no one to turn to. Their parents and teachers never listened when they tried to tell them what was happening. They were often threatened with dire consequences if they dared to speak up.

Only years later, these survivors found the courage to come forward and share their stories. Sadly, by then, many of the abusers had died, and it was almost impossible to prosecute those still alive.

One of the most shocking aspects of the abuse at Archbishop Keough High School is how the Catholic Church enabled it. The church authorities knew of the abuse but covered it up for years. They would transfer the abusive priests to other dioceses instead of taking action against them.

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The Child Victims Act – How the Recent Baltimore Law Affects You 

A recent report by the Baltimore Attorney General’s office documents more than 600 accounts of sexual abuse against children. The abuses happened while under the care of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The survivors who have come forward with their stories of abuse at Archbishop Keough High School are brave. They shine a light on the dark history of the Catholic Church.

Their bravery in speaking up is commendable. We owe it to them to demand accountability from the church. No institution is above the law.

Take a Stand and Seek Justice with The Yost Legal Group

The recent passing of the Child Victims Act in Baltimore is a significant win for abuse survivors. This act allows survivors to seek justice for crimes committed against them even after decades have passed.

Many survivors of church abuse in Baltimore have lived in silence and pain for years, unable to pursue legal action. This landmark law allows individuals to seek redress and hold abusers accountable for their actions.

If you were sexually abused by the church or religious school in Baltimore, call our sexual assault lawyers. The new Child Victims Act is an opportunity to reclaim your power and seek justice for the wrongs committed against you.

Our sexual abuse lawyers know that taking legal action may be challenging. It’s worth considering what justice might look like and how it could improve your life.

Together, our child abuse attorneys can bring healing and justice to survivors of child sexual abuse.

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How the Child Victims Act works and what you must do to access justice. 

Now, sexual abuse claims against churches and other institutions can be filed for years, even decades, after the abuse occurred. By exposing these crimes, you can help prevent future abuses.

If you, a friend, or a family member were sexually assaulted between 1973 to 2023 by clergy, a teacher, or a guidance counselor, contact us for help.

The Yost Legal Group can help protect you and go after the system that allowed the abuse.

We’ll fight for you, and we’ll stand up for you. We want to make sure you get the justice you deserve, as well as financial compensation to help make your life a little bit easier. You may receive compensation for the damages suffered from the abuse.

This includes money for medical expenses, lost wages, therapy and treatment, and for years of pain and suffering.

If you were sexually assaulted at Archbishop Keough High School, call The Yost Legal Group.  We are filing claims against the Archdiocese of Baltimore on behalf of women.

Don’t hesitate to contact us today at 1-800-Yost-Law for a free initial consultation. We will explain how you can pursue justice and financial compensation. Let us help you get the closure you deserve.

You never have to pay any fees upfront when hiring The Yost Legal Group. No money is due while we build your case and file your claim. We only get paid after we settle your case successfully. And if there is no recovery, no fees or expenses are due.

Sexual Abuse Helpline and Definitions of rape and sexual assault

Help for Sexual Assault: Hotline for sexual assault: 1-800-656-4673

Sexual Assault Definition: Sexual assault is an act in which one intentionally sexually touches another person without that person’s consent or coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their will.[1] It is a form of sexual violence that includes child sexual abusegropingrape (forced sexual penetration, no matter how slight), drug-facilitated sexual assault), and the torture of the person in a sexual manner.[1][2][3] (The work is released under CC-BY-SA )

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault

Rape Definition: Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercionabuse of authority, or against a person who is incapable of giving valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, has an intellectual disability, or is below the legal age of consent.[1][2] The term rape is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sexual assault.[3] (The work is released under CC-BY-SA )

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape

Help for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Baltimore

Sexual abuse is a terrible crime. It not only violates a person in a physical sense but also robs them of their innocence and dignity. There is help available for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Baltimore. This is especially heartbreaking when those in positions of morality, such as members of the Catholic Church, are behind the abuses.

Sadly, this has been the case in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. A report was recently released. It revealed that over 600 children were sexually abused by 150 priests and other church affiliates over the past 80 years.

In this blog, we delve deeper into the report’s findings, the church’s response, and how victim-survivors can seek justice.

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released the report. It accused the archdiocese of decades of cover-ups. It also painted a damning picture of the church’s failure to protect vulnerable children.

Shockingly, some parishes, schools, and congregations had more than one abuser at the same time. Several instances of multiple abusers were identified at St. Mark Parish in Catonsville. Between 1964 and 2004, 11 abusers lived and worked in the area.

This level of abuse and cover-up is hard to imagine and demands immediate action.

Even if your clergy sexual abuse occurred over 50 years ago, we can seek justice on your behalf.

Making the Church Accountable for Its Crimes

Based on the report’s findings, the church hierarchy has been held culpable for the staggering pervasiveness of the abuse.

The number of abusers and victims is alarming, and so is the severity of the abuser’s behavior. Shockingly, known abusers were often allowed to keep victimizing children.

The report identified 156 individuals who abused over 600 children, but the actual number of victims may be much higher than that.

The report’s disclosure sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice. Victim-survivors deserve justice, restitution, and the opportunity to heal. The Catholic Church must be held accountable for the abuse it allowed to persist for decades.

The church’s response has been a mixed bag so far. Several officials have expressed regret over the abuse, while others have remained silent.

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore apologized publicly. In his statement, he promised to be part of the solution. He also admitted to the church’s complicity.

He asked believers to use the report’s findings to strengthen their faith. However, many survivors, advocates, and their families are not convinced.

They feel betrayed and have lost all faith in a system that allowed the abuse to go on unchecked.

A Catholic priest is a sexual predator to young boys in Baltimore.

Getting Justice for Those Sexually Abused by the Baltimore Archdiocese

The revelations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore are shocking. They reveal the corruption that is ingrained in the Catholic Church. We must stand with the survivors of the abuse and demand accountability from church officials.

The Catholic Church must prioritize protecting the innocent and the vulnerable, not its image or reputation. Victims deserve not just apologies but justice – an end to these heinous abuses and the assurance of never again being victimized.

The release of this report is a step in the right direction, and it’s our hope that justice will be served. Together, let us fight for victims’ rights and stamp out sexual abuse in all its forms.

First and foremost, there is no shame in being a victim of sexual abuse. At the Yost Legal Group, we recognize the bravery of those who speak out about their experiences. We are committed to advocating for their rights.

Seeking Financial Justice for Baltimore’s Sexual Abuse Survivors

Every abuse case is unique, and that is why our child sexual abuse lawyers will discuss your situation for free.

The impact of sexual abuse can endure for many years and manifest in different ways. You may suffer from emotional, psychological, and physical trauma that requires treatment and support.

If you or a loved one has been impacted by such an ordeal, you are not alone. The Yost Legal Group can provide the help, support, and guidance you are looking for.

There are ways in which we can seek financial compensation for you as one way to fight back against your abuser.

–      If you have incurred expenses relating to therapy, medical care, and lost income.

–      You may seek compensation for pain and suffering.

–      Other related expenses throughout your life related to your mental and physical well-being.

–      Unable to build your career or advance in job opportunities.

We know that no monetary compensation can right the wrongs that were done to you. It can, however, help you regain some control over your life and help you move forward.

Seeking restitution from the institution that enabled the abuse to occur should not be confused with seeking financial gain. Our sexual abuse attorney division will stand up for you with dignity and respect.

Punishment for those who contributed to the trauma should include economic and legal repercussions. There is now a new law that removes the statute of limitations for adult survivors in the state of Maryland.

The Yost Legal Group is helping survivors of Catholic Church Sexual Abuse claims.

 

A Catholic priest is a sexual predator to young boys in Baltimore.

The Yost Legal Group Is Here to Help

At the Yost Legal Group, we have experience representing men and women who are sexual abuse survivors by the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

We understand that each case is unique and requires a high level of sensitivity, discretion, and compassion. A clergy sexual abuse lawyer will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the justice and compensation that you rightfully deserve.

No amount of money can give back what was taken from you. However, holding accountable those who contributed to your trauma can provide a path to healing and recovery. It is your right to take legal action against the catholic priests and their sexual offenses.

The road to recovery can be challenging, but with the right team of professionals by your side, it can be made easier. Contact the Yost Legal Group today and let us help you take the first step towards finding peace of mind.

For too long, vulnerable targets of sexual abuse have been silenced and their trauma ignored. At the Yost Legal Group, a sexual abuse lawyer will fight for your rights while maintaining your privacy. If you have been molested by someone in the church, there is help for sexual abuse survivors.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual abuse by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, don’t suffer in silence. Call a sexual assault lawyer today at 1-800-Yost-Law. Let us help you seek the justice and compensation that you deserve.

Together, we can work towards you taking your power back.