Ex-Cardinal McCarrick Wisconsin sex abuse charges, victim feels 'relief'

By Jason Calvi, Published April 17, 2023 9:05PM, Updated 9:25PM

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. - Wisconsin prosecutors charged former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man more than 45 years ago. The criminal complaint doesn’t name the alleged victim, but James Grein spoke with FOX6 News on Monday, April 17 and confirmed he was the man.

"I really felt a sigh of relief," Grein said. "It was important to hear that somebody else believed me, and they were going to go forward with the charges, and it gave me great relief."

The complaint says the unnamed man reported being repeatedly abused in other states from the time after he was 11, and then the abuse came to Wisconsin in 1977, while McCarrick was on a trip to Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva, Wis. The criminal complaint says the alleged victim and McCarrick were guests at a residence. 

The complaint adds there was a second unnamed man there that also assaulted the teen: "Victim 1 stated that Victim 1 was in the water off of the dock at the residence when the defendant and another adult male entered the water." The complaint then describes both men fondling the 18-year-old without his consent.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice says the alleged victim contacted the Attorney General’s "Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative." The criminal complaint says a special agent with the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation and a Walworth County Sheriff's deputy interviewed the man, identified as "Victim 1" in the criminal complaint. 

Theodore McCarrick, James Grein

"It’s incredibly important because I remember this like it was yesterday," Grein said. "I can close my eyes and see exactly what is happening to me."

Months later, in June, McCarrick would become a bishop. Later, the pope elevated him to archbishop, then Archbishop of Washington, and finally in 2001, Pope John Paul II named him a cardinal. In D.C., he wielded great power both in the Church and American politics. 

Theodore McCarrick

In 2019, Pope Francis removed him from the priesthood due to allegations of abuse. 

Forty-six years after Grein alleges he was abused on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin prosecutors bring charges. The criminal complaint says the statute of limitations doesn't apply "when a defendant is not publicly a resident of the State of Wisconsin."

"In Wisconsin, if you leave the state, your statute of limitation freezes," said Peter Isley of Nate's Mission.  "Anytime an offender, anybody who hurts, harms or assaults a child, should know that they’re not going to get away with it, no matter how old they get."

"God works slowly, but He is never late,"said Grein. "I’m very fortunate. See, God is working in my favor. That this law lands and I can do something about it."

James Grein

McCarrick is also facing charges in Massachusetts, where he pled not guilty. His attorneys there asked those charges be dropped since they say the 92-year-old is suffering from dementia.

Grein has shared allegations against McCarrick for years, and McCarrick denied them.

"This man is still living happy, joyous and free while the rest of us are still being victimized by him," Grein said. "You can’t hide anymore, you just can’t."