Nation/World

Even though the Vatican stripping McCarrick of his clerical status Feb. 16 was expected, the news cast a somber mood over those faith communities already grappling with what had happened while he was among them in the past.

Here is a timeline of key events in the life of Theodore E. McCarrick, beginning with his ordination as a priest for the Archdiocese of New York more than 60 years ago and ending with the Vatican’s announcement Feb. 16.

The Vatican’s removal from the priesthood of Theodore McCarrick “is a clear signal that abuse will not be tolerated,” said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Feb. 16.

The Vatican announced the decision Feb. 16, saying, Theodore E. McCarrick, was found guilty of “solicitation in the sacrament of confession and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating factor of the abuse of power.”

The latest federal estimate that the number of Americans in poverty is now below 40 million for the first time in a long time — the actual figure is 39.7 million — that still means one of every eight Americans is poor.

Hard-fought legislation that gives President Donald Trump 55 additional miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, well short of what he requested, was on its way to his desk Feb. 15, 2019, after the House and Senate both passed the measure late Feb. 14.

One day before the anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, neighboring Mary Help of Christians School held a prayer service to pay tribute to the victims.

In an address to members of the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s governing council Feb. 14, the pope said that while achieving the goal of making poverty and hunger a thing of the past “has been talked about for a long time,” there has not been enough concrete action.