WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Georgetown University announced the school is rescinding the honorary degree granted to former Archbishop of Washington and U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2004 Tuesday, just days after he was dismissed by the Vatican from the priesthood.
President John J. DeGioia released a letter to the Georgetown University community stating, in part, "with the concurrence of our Board of Directors, Georgetown University is rescinding the honorary degree granted to Theodore McCarrick fourteen years ago."
The letter says that "this is the first time an honorary degree conferred by the University has been revoked."
DeGioia says the university formed a working group that examines a "range of issues" related to honorary degrees last fall. He says it has focused on "the purpose and practice of granting such degrees.
The letter says McCarrick's dismissal is the first time such an action has been taken against a U.S. Cardinal.