Disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been expelled from Roman Catholic priesthood over sexual abuse, in what is the highest profile dismissal from the church in modern times.
The Vatican said the removal of Mr McCarrick, 88, is a "very important signal" to the Church hierarchy that no one is "above the law".
McCarrick, who was the archbishop of Washington DC between 2001 and 2006, was expelled on Saturday after being found guilty of sexual crimes against minors and adults.
As the church continues to struggle with a decades-long sexual abuse crisis, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said the decision showed the church is taking action.
He told Reuters: "We are walking the talk. There is also a very important signal for us bishops that we are not above the law. We should be judged according to the highest standards.”
Mr McCarrick's sexual misconduct with adult seminarians was an open secret in the US Church, with allegations going back 50 years.
Mr Scicluna added the decision could lead to "soul searching" by those who may have known about it but did not say anything.
The Church has repeatedly come under fire for its handling of the abuse crisis, which has exposed how predator priests were moved from parish to parish instead of being defrocked or turned over to authorities in countries around the world.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
