Where’s McCarrick? Where’s the Report?

Given the sharp turn of events in Baltimore and the clear leadership role Cdl. Cupich had obviously been given by Pope Francis, few were surprised that Cupich had been tabbed to head the Roman February sex summit where he disallowed any discussion whatsoever about the underlying cause of the predator clergy crisis — homosexuality among the clergy.

Later that year, at the November 2019 Baltimore meeting of the U.S. bishops, Boston's Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley told the gathered the Vatican might publish what it knows about McCarrick's ascent to power by Christmas, or perhaps the New Year.

In his first audience with the pope in late January 2020 when the report had still not be released, Bp. Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, asked about the promised McCarrick report. Afterward, Strickland told Catholic News Service only that "work on the report is underway, and it will be released in the future."

Another two months later, the report still has not been released. The continued delay does not surprise one of McCarrick's most well-known abuse victims, James Grein, who told Church Militant: "The pope just does not care, period. Francis never cared about me or anyone who was abused. McCarrick abused so many that Francis is numb to me and all others. Pope Francis is not my pope."

McCarrick's Whereabouts?

Following the headlines about McCarrick's crimes, Fox News anchor Martha McCallum, host of The Story with Martha McCallum, investigated the disgraced cleric's move to Capuchin St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas.

She reported that the newly appointed bishop of Salina, Gerald Lee Vincke, "reluctantly gave his blessing [to the move] as McCarrick was suddenly placed at the friary by embattled Cdl. Donald Wuerl, who ultimately had to resign himself for covering up clerical sex abuse in his archdiocese."

This detail, innocently revealed by the new bishop, raises the question: why was Donald Wuerl involved in finding housing for McCarrick? Who gave him that role?

Furthermore, as one Victoria resident remarked, "If he's [McCarrick] no longer a priest, he should not be living there [with other priests at the friary].

In January 2020, the friary announced that one of the world's most famous sex abusers had left and was relocating to an undisclosed location, "secluded and away from public attention." Speculations about McCarrick's whereabouts, including whether he is still alive, have been widely circulating.

One of the reasons his location is important is his history as an abuser. Communities would want to know if he were living near a university, a high school or a seminary.

Church Militant has been able to verify that McCarrick was alive on Christmas 2019. Church officials will release no information on his whereabouts.

Perhaps, "in due course," all will be revealed in the promised McCarrick report.

Church Militant contacted Cdl. Cupich, Cdl. DiNardo and Bp. Strickland for comment but none were available.