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Statement on Holy See’s Report on Theodore McCarrick Most Reverend José H. Gomez Archbishop of Los Angeles President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

PISCATAWAY – Like Catholic dioceses across the nation and even around the world, the Diocese of Metuchen eagerly awaited the release of the Holy See’s findings of its investigation into disgraced former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick – and the report finally came

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), is welcoming the recent announcement by the Holy See outlining steps to ensure the faithful are protected by the evil of sexual assault.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Administrative Committee has issued the following statement today in response to the recent sex abuse scandals. In the statement, the bishops say they pledge to "heal and protect with every bit of the strength God provides us."

“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement after a series of meetings with members of the USCCB's Executive Committee and other bishops. The following statement includes three goals and three principles, along with initial steps of a plan that will involve laity, experts, and the Vatican. A more developed plan will be presented to the full body of bishops at their general assembly meeting in Baltimore in November.

Reverend A. Gregory Uhrig, 71, a priest of the Diocese of Metuchen, is among those identified in the extensive Pennsylvania grand jury report. While he was alerted in May of his inclusion, he was forbidden by the Grand Jury to speak on this serious matter before the release of the report Aug. 14.

New Jersey’s Roman Catholic Bishops acknowledge that media accounts of the details contained in Pennsylvania’s grand jury report show a heartbreaking departure from our fundamental belief in the dignity and value of every child. As a Church, our calling remains unchanged - to help children in our care encounter leaders who exemplify God’s commandment to love and protect the most vulnerable.

Since becoming your bishop just over two years ago, I have been regularly uplifted – and affirmed in my own ministry – by so many faithful and committed priests, religious and lay people. I am constantly amazed to learn about new initiatives here which strive to deepen our friendship with Christ, and the numerous efforts that so many undertake to provide genuine responses to tragic situations that call upon us to show the mercy of God to those in need. I also feel strengthened by the examples of generosity that I have experienced when I have called upon you to help me respond to building up our local Church, in order that we can meet so many needs together. The people of the Diocese of Metuchen are an inspiration.

Pope Francis’s acceptance of Cardinal McCarrick’s resignation from the College of Cardinals is a clear demonstration of the seriousness with which the Holy Father considers this shameful betrayal of human dignity. We all need to pray that we will continue to have the courage to confront these past misdeeds in a forthright and fearless way, and to bind up the wounds that have afflicted us a

The sad and shocking news regarding our diocese’s founding bishop, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick went viral soon after it was made public. On June 20, Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced that the Archdiocese of New York had investigated allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor by Cardinal McCarrick nearly 50 years ago when he was a priest in the Archdiocese.

I was very saddened to be advised by the Archbishop of New York that Cardinal Theodore McCarrick – who served as the Bishop of Metuchen from 1982 to 1986 – is alleged to have sexually abused a minor forty-seven years ago when he was a priest in the Archdiocese of New York. I have also been advised that Cardinal McCarrick himself has disputed this allegation and is appealing this matter through the canonical process.