Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, facing sexual abuse reports, resigns from the College of Cardinals

Pope Francis ordered McCarrick to remain in seclusion, and in prayer, until a church trial considers further sanctions against him.

McCarrick is the highest ranked U.S. Catholic clergy member to ever be removed from ministry due to sexual abuse allegations.

In June, McCarrick was removed from ministry when a church review board found that he had been credibly accused of abusing a teenager early in his career, when he was a priest in New York. The youth was helping prepare for a Christmas service when McCarrick allegedly put his hands in the boy’s pants. When he was removed from ministry, McCarrick said he had no memory at all of that incident and he maintained his innocence, but accepted the Vatican’s decision.