Fundamental flaws in the culture and decision-making at the highest levels in the Church have been exposed by an investigation into a disgraced American cardinal

The Holy See’s long-awaited report into ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is a first in many ways. Not least, it is the first institutional examination of conscience by the Vatican of its handling of a high-profile abuse case to be made public. Few involved, including the current Pope and his two predecessors, emerge from the story with their reputations enhanced.

What makes the document unprecedented is its willingness to confront the mistake that was made by a pope and now saint, John Paul II, in appointing Theodore McCarrick as Archbishop of Washington, D.C. in 2000, and a cardinal the following year. Pope John Paul took the decision despite being aware of sexual misconduct allegations made against McCarrick. But he did so, the report explains, due to inadequate information supplied by some United States bishops, suspicions about the truth of the allegations, and John Paul’s years of working directly with McCarrick.

At the time of his Washington appointment, no victim of McCarrick had come forward to the Holy See. It was not until almost two decades later that an allegation that McCarrick had abused a minor would be deemed credible, leading to his removal from the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis. Soon afterwards, after a church trial found him guilty of abusing minors and adults, he was dismissed from the priesthood.