Charity Changes Name in Wake of Cardinal’s Resignation
The McCarrick Center has changed its name to the Catholic Charities Center. (click to enlarge) | Google Street View (Image dated October 2017)
The controversy surrounding a high-ranking official in the Catholic church has led to a Montgomery County charity to change its name.
The Cardinal McCarrick Center in Wheaton has changed its name to the Catholic Charities Center because of the controversy surrounding its namesake.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick resigned on Saturday, July 28, after allegations surfaced he abused minors and adult seminarians, according to The New York Times.
The McCarrick Center provides a dental clinic, legal services to immigrants, a pregnancy support center, and assistance in applying for food stamps and in contesting evictions.
A statement from the Archdiocese of Washington, issued three days after McCarrick’s resignation, announced the name change:
For many years, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington has provided a host of services to those in need locally in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia at the resource center in Silver Spring. Individuals and families have been able to access medical and dental care, participate in educational programing, receive employment assistance, obtain healthy food deliveries, and access critical legal counseling. Many of these programs are also designed and implemented to meet the needs of our Hispanic brothers and sisters.
The building was named the McCarrick Center in 2005, but shortly afterwards, Catholic Charities began noting some confusion among its clients as to the services being offered there. While a name change was in process, it was accelerated following recent allegations that retired Washington Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, while he was a priest and later a bishop in New York and then New Jersey decades ago, had engaged in abusive behavior with minors and seminarians. With renovations on the exterior of the property recently undertaken, the Catholic Charities name was added to more accurately reflect the provider of services and the social outreach and support which can be accessed.
The name change comes just as the church is dealing with the fallout of a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation, which revealed 300 “predator priests,” 1,000 child victims and an attempted cover-up by the Catholic Church.
CONGRATULATIONS on making a wise and kind decision. May those injured by Fr. theodore McCarrick never have to see his name being honored again, at least not until he admits his failings.
Hopefully Archbishop Whurle will resign
to enable the healing process to continue.