Since the scandalous revelations of Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s sexual dalliances flooded the news and social media, faithful Catholics have been demanding answers, especially ‘Who Knew?’ Most eyes are on other bishops and cardinals closest to McCarrick, but there is another connection being grossly overlooked.
For over 18 years, McCarrick served as a member of Catholic Relief Service’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, a position whose term limits are normally limited to 6 years. In a 2009 interview with the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, McCarrick explained that CRS’ bylaws limiting terms to 6 years was changed just to accommodate him. But McCarrick didn’t only sit on CRS’ board of directors, he was actually the chairman of CRS’ Foundation board, a position he held from the time the position was created in 2006 (see page 3 of this linked document) up until his disgraceful activities were made public. The mission of the Foundation Board states the following:
The Catholic Relief Services Foundation Board helps advance CRS’s mission by advising the agency on key strategic initiatives, providing support and inspiring others to join us.
Throughout his 18 years as a member of CRS’s board, McCarrick traveled frequently to impoverished areas of the world, many of which were dealing with serious problems regarding sex tourism and the sexual trafficking of minors. Bp. Berry Knestout, new bishop of the Diocese of Richmond, served six months as McCarrick’s secretary, and issued a statement confirming McCarrick’s frequent travel for CRS:
One month after McCarrick’s behavior was publicized, CRS issued the following statement:
“CRS recently completed a thorough global review, asking our staff to report any knowledge of previously unreported or unresolved allegations of misconduct. There were a few issues that needed attention and have been addressed, but none of them were related to program visits. CRS protocol does not allow anyone — visitors or CRS employees — to be alone with children and program participants.”
There are several problems with this statement: 1) What were the unstated issues? 2) Just because there is a protocol, this doesn’t mean it was followed.
Recently, one of CRS’s regular partners, Oxfam, was found to be mired in illicit activities in Haiti with the people they were claiming to serve. While McCarrick went to Cuba with Cardinal O’Malley in 2015 for a trip unrelated to CRS, one is forced to wonder whether such protocols were in place for him then.
The point is this; McCarrick’s activities were well known among priests, reporters and bishops for a very long time, and yet, he was applauded, heralded, cheered, and allowed free range of the world without any warning or concern for the innocents his eyes were scanning for.
We already know that Archbishop Myers, Bishop Checchio, Cardinal Tobin and Bishop Bootkoski all knew about McCarrick’s abuses. We also know that Cardinal O’Malley and Bishop McElroy were sent letters detailing McCarrick’s abuse of seminarians. And given their closeness to Cardinal McCarrick, it is highly unlikely that Cardinal Wuerl and Cardinal Farrell were oblivious to McCarrick’s wicked deeds.
And given the knowledge among these highly-placed bishops, and considering the fact that Catholic Relief Services is the official international aid and development program of the United States bishops, it goes without saying that CRS, at least to this capacity, knew what McCarrick was about and still allowed him to travel the world on CRS’s dime, doing God-knows-what while he is out of the limelight in the United States. And if CRS wishes to claim that it, in fact, was unaware of McCarrick’s misdeeds … which were well-known to virtually everyone else … then CRS is entirely incompetent to police itself for the other problems that have been discovered about it.
Remember, CRS is already embroiled in its own scandals as noted in a number of our previous reports:
- CRS implemented a Planned Parenthood style sex-ed curriculum in Rwanda
- CRS implemented a condom-promoting video series
- A CRS executive entered into a same-sex ‘marriage’
- CRS employees “stood” with Planned Parenthood
- 98% of CRS employee political donations go to pro-abortion candidates
- Inventory reports show CRS distributed millions of units of abortifacient contraception and condoms
- CRS’ former CEO participated in an initiative of a women’s ordination group
- CRS is a major funder of a pro-abortion lobbying group
How are we to trust CRS when it issues denials about these relationships with the culture of death when it is run by bishops who promote and protect their abusive and deviant brothers? There is a culture of corruption that is becoming evident and this MUST be addressed before true reform can take place and trust can be reestablished.
Thank you again Lepanto for shining the light on CRS.
Knowing of evil and failing to act makes each and every one of these priests, bishops, cardinals, just as guilty as the demonic perpetrators. ENJOY HELL because there is no penance or forgiveness for the rape of an innocent.
No. Not true. This is not Catholic teaching at all. Everything can be forgiven with true contrition and firm desire to amend one’s life. That’s why we have hope. Also, just knowing rumors doesn’t mean “they are just as guilty”. They bear responsibility for what they know and for failing to act, but that is not the “same”.
Obviously the CRS needs to be disbanded, and all its assets be placed in escrow.
Those who have perpetrated these crimes need to be held personally responsible. The damages should come out of their hides and personal fortunes before touching diocesan funds extracted from the innocent parishioners.
Now, perhaps, we are in a better position to understand why civilized countries once considered sodomy a capital crime (i.e. worthy of the death penalty).
all of this gives the secular – agnostic – atheist organizations plenty of ammunition to disavow what the Founding Fathers and sincere people have faith have devoted there lives to (ex. mother Theresa – Billy Graham – founder of The Mercy Ship) this not going to go away. I too was a victim by a Christion Brother who also was “TRANSFERED”. Fortunatley I was not sodamized I was touched and managed to escape. Was too afraid to tell anyone.
SODAMIZED? Is that when someone forces another person drink SODA ?
I am very sorry this happened to you. I hope you are healing from it and have found peace.
Hay que investigar el clero catolico en
La isla de puerto rico el cardenal cupich viajo a dar una donación para los damnificados huracan maria. Para quien era realmente la donación. No sabemos. Ya que ninguno habla de la situación que ocurre dentro de la iglesia.
Translation: You have to investigate the Catholic clergy in The island of Puerto Rico Cardinal Cupich traveled to give a donation to the victims Hurricane Maria. For who was really the donation. We do not know. Since none speaks of the situation that occurs within the church.
Check out Cupich — another US Cardinal, therefore questionable, surely, as we are told from many sources that “everyone” amongst the higher clergy knew about the now broadcast, hypocritically perverse and sexually perverted activities of MacCarrick.
Aug. 19, 2018: NO MORE DONATIONS to CRS – and before giving to any charitable organization make sure to check where your money goes. It has been known for years that the USCCB donates money to questionable organizations and causes. Now we learn that Bishops and Priests have used our donations for illicit affairs with men, for purchasing luxurious homes and cars, etc. :No more money to the Bishops or their causes until we know how it is being spent. They spent millions and millions of our dollars on behalf of abusive Bishops and Priests…NO MORE!!!
It all comes down to discarding the vows of POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE! It also has a ton to do with BELLA DODD and her exposure of the Communist infiltration of the Seminaries in the 30’s and 40’s. A short book to read, which details the disgusting life of one of those infiltrators in his own words is , “A A 1027”. “ A A stands for anti-apostle “ and the number was the number he was given in the order he was placed in a seminary. It will make your blood curdle!
Thought to consider…why not give all $$$ or raised “donations” from the extra collections collected from Sunday Mass into the Catholic school system hence making it a free education?
This is not the Catholic Church but a satanic false church. Seek Truth.
Knowing of evil and failing to act makes each and every one of these priests, bishops, cardinals, just as guilty as the demonic perpetrators. ENJOY HELL because there is no penance or forgiveness for the rape of an innocent.
I gave a couple thousand dollars to CRS some years ago when I thought they were Catholic. I would be interested in a class action suit against CRS for return of my donations, since CRS was falsely represented and promoted as a faithful Catholic organization. I would donate any money returned to me to good prolife organization(s).
It was not just highly placed clergy who might have known about Uncle Ted’s crimes. The basic facts were reported in the UK magazine “Christian Order”, in its June/July 2006 issue. So hundreds of Catholics in the UK and elsewhere knew about him. No one seems to have pursued this information and Uncle Ted continued globetrotting as a senior and respected Church representative.
Given the iniquitous British libel laws, McCarrick could easily have destroyed “Christian Order” or forced them into a grovelling apology. Yet he did not pursue legal action.
“And guess what: the said Archbishop McCarrick, who in 2002 voiced his support for the ordination of homosexuals, has now been accused of ‘inviting’ certain seminarians to sleep in the same bed with him. In December 2005, the courageous whistleblower Father James Haley, who’s epic confrontation with the Lavender Mafia we shall later recount, told Matt Abbott of MichNews.com about then-Bishop Theodore McCarrick’s predatory ‘techniques’.
His testimony reveals how active or tacit complicity in the homosexual enterprise begins in the seminary. It also speaks to the lunacy of entrusting any Vatican directive, let alone the recent Instruction, to the likes of now-Cardinal McCarrick of Washington his hierarchical buddies in the U.S. and elsewhere.”
Oh Lord Jesus, we have all fall short of your Grace, even the Highly placed Consecrated souls? Have Mercy on us all !!!!!. Do these people really recite the Nicene Creed? St Bonaventure will really get disappointed.
Vatican II era decadence and dissent must be replaced with the Vatican I era standards of discipline and doctrine in order to restore the Catholic Church and faith.
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a noble spirit. I will teach the wicked thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to thee.
Psalm Fifty: verses fourteen through fifteen.