John Yang:

But McCarrick's own behavior became the focus last month when he was removed from the ministry. The Archdiocese of New York said an accusation that he had molested a 16-year-old altar boy nearly 50 years ago was credible. McCarrick denied it.

Now there are more allegations. The New York Times reports that, beginning in the 1980s, when McCarrick was a New Jersey bishop, he inappropriately touched young adult seminarians. The newspaper said church officials knew of the allegations as he rose in the hierarchy. McCarrick declined to comment to The Times.

The Reverend James Martin is a Jesuit priest and editor at large of the Jesuit magazine "America." He joins us now from New York.

Father Martin, thanks for being with us.

The New York Times reported that the first documentation they see of a complaint that the Catholic Church was aware of, church officials were aware of, was in 1994.

How could these allegations have been around for so long, and yet Cardinal McCarrick rise in the church hierarchy?