‘He suffers from significant, worsening and irreversible dementia’
(Image courtesy Pixabay)
Attorneys for former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick asked a district court Monday to dismiss accusations of sexual assault after a psychologist determined McCarrick was “legally incompetent” due to dementia, according to court documents.
McCarrick was removed of his title of D.C. archbishop by Pope Francis in 2019 after several young men came forward in 2018 claiming that the former church leader had sexually abused them, according to the Washington Post. McCarrick was set to stand trial, but his legal counsel filed a motion to dismiss Monday revealing that the former cardinal has been reportedly suffering from dementia, according to the motion.
“Defendant Theodore McCarrick, now 92 years old, respectfully requests that this Court dismiss the pending criminal complaint, because he suffers from significant, worsening and irreversible dementia, and thus, is legally incompetent to stand trial,” the motion read. “Although a jury trial would afford Mr. McCarrick the opportunity to confront his accuser, prove his innocence, and vindicate his reputation, a ‘person whose mental condition is such that he lacks the capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings against him, to consult with counsel, and to assist in preparing his defense may not be subject to trial.’”