Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick Charged With Indecent Assault In 1970s Wellesley Incident

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WELLESLEY (CBS) -- Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been charged with indecent assault and battery by police in Wellesley.

The alleged assault happened at a wedding reception at Wellesley College in the 1970s. The alleged victim also told police McCarrick continued to abuse him in the years after when they met up in Newton and Arlington.

McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington D.C., is the highest-ranking former church official to face criminal charges in the U.S. clergy abuse scandal. The 91-year-old was defrocked in 2019 over sexual abuse allegations and several men have filed civil lawsuits against him, but this is the first time he's faced a criminal charge.

McCarrick is set to be arraigned Sept. 3, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office.