Pope authorizes study of Vatican archives in McCarrick investigation

Pope Francis authorized a “thorough study” of Vatican archives into how then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick advanced through church ranks, despite allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement Saturday, the Vatican said it was aware that opening an investigation could turn up evidence “that choices were taken that would not be consonant with a contemporary approach to such issues.”

{mosads}”Both abuse and its cover-up can no longer be tolerated and a different treatment for Bishops who have committed or covered up abuse, in fact represents a form of clericalism that is no longer acceptable,” the statement continued.

The statement comes a month after a 2006 letter from a top Vatican official came to light, revealing that the Vatican was aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against McCarrick. In the letter, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri asked New York priest, Father Boniface Ramsey, to provide more information about McCarrick’s alleged wrongdoing at a seminary in New Jersey.

McCarrick was removed from public ministry after he was accused of abusing a teenager nearly five decades ago. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Francis, at the time, refused to confirm or deny the allegations, saying, “I won’t say a word about it.”

According to the Vatican, the investigation’s conclusions will be made public “in due course.” 

The letter did not acknowledge that the Vatican knew about allegations against McCarrick as early as 2000 after seminarians reported that the then-cardinal pressured them to have sex with him. 

The statement also did not address allegations that Francis was aware of misconduct allegations against McCarrick in 2013 and chose to rehabilitate him. In August, the pope declined to confirm or deny reports that he knew of sexual misconduct allegations against McCarrick years before they became public.