A reckoning has finally come for Uncle Ted

Had I but served my God with half the zeal 
I served my King, he would not in mine age 
Have left me naked to mine enemies. Cardinal Wolsey

(Henry VIII, Act III, Scene 2) 

Well, the rumors about Cardinal McCarrick that have been festering for decades have finally come to a head.   There will be no more whispered sardonic quips about  Cardinal McCarrick and his "nephews." A lot of people-- seminarians who never got ordained, priests, and laity  have been waiting for this day. I hope it gives them some measure of peace.

Philip Lawler wonders how it went on so long. It's because when people like Richard Sipe , Randy Engel and Matt Abbott called the cardinal  out  publicly they were met with thick, smooth silence.   Julia Duin, formerly a religion editor for the Washington Times says that from 2008 to 2010, she investigated the allegations but couldn't find anyone who would dare go public with their accusations. Rod Dreher says he's known since 2002, when he was contacted by a priest who went to Rome with a group of laymen to protest the appointment of then Archbishop McCarrick to cardinal of DC because of his history of harassing seminarians and young priests. That protest was ignored or rejected when the cardinal retired in 2006, he was allowed to take up residence in the Redemptorist Mater seminary in Maryland.

Cardinal McCarrick is 87. He was powerful, not as powerful as Cardinal Wolsey in his prime of course, but having done such a miserable job of serving Our Lord and His Church he is now naked to his enemies.  If there is anyone out there reading this who was one the nephews or refused to be one, NOW is the time to speak up. McCarrick can't do anything to you. FIAT JUSTITIA RUAT  CAELUM.