A Message from the President to the University Community

On June 1, 1974, at the Commencement Ceremony for the Staten Island Campus, St. John’s University conferred an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, on the then Rev. Msgr. Theodore McCarrick.  Prior to the 1971 merger of Notre Dame College in Staten Island and St. John’s University, McCarrick served on the Board of Trustees at Notre Dame College. At the time of the conferral of the honorary degree, he served as Senior Secretary to Terence Cardinal Cooke, then Archbishop of New York.
   
This past weekend, after a thorough investigation of allegations of sexual abuse made against ex-Cardinal McCarrick, the Vatican defrocked him, finding him “guilty of sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians over decades.” In light of these events, the St. John’s Board of Trustees has decided to rescind the honorary degree awarded to Theodore McCarrick. While it is unusual for any university to rescind an honorary degree, the Board of Trustees has the authority to take this action when circumstances warrant such a decision.

The painful tragedy of sexual abuse cannot be ignored. We offer our prayers and support for the victims of sexual abuse and their families that they may find justice, healing and peace in their lives.