MONTEREY – On Sunday, 12 November 2023, Rev. Cornelius “Scott” McCarthy died.
“Father Scott” studied theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley and prepared for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park. He served as a priest of the Diocese of Monterey in California as 17th pastor of Our Lady of Refuge in Castroville (1983-1993), 7th pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Carmel Valley (1993-2004), and 11th pastor of Saint Francis Xavier in Seaside (2004-2007).
In 2019, Fr McCarthy was wrongfully placed on a diocesan list of “Priests Credibly Accused of Sexually Abusing a Minor”. According to this report, Fr McCarthy was accused in 2002 of an incident that occurred in 1976. Following an investigation, the Vatican said: “Fr McCarthy’s name on a list of clerics credibly accused of abusing a minor is demonstrably false and his removal from ministry is declared invalid, and his name is to be removed from the list of Priests Credibly Accused of Sexually Abusing a Minor.”
Fr Scott was the author of three books: Sacraments and Shamans: A Priest Journeys Among Native Peoples (2011), People of the Circle, People of the Four Directions: A Gathering of Native American Prayers, Rituals, and Traditions (2015), and Celebrating the Earth! An Earth-Centered Theology of Worship with Blessings, Prayers, and Rituals (2017).
A vigil will take place on Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 7pm at the parish of Madonna del Sasso, 320 East Laurel Drive, Salinas, with the Funeral Mass to be celebrated on Friday, 1 December 2023 at 10am. Burial will be private and at a later date.
Hear with favor our prayers,
which we humbly offer, O Lord,
for the salvation of the soul of Scott, Your servant and Priest,
that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to Your name,
may rejoice in the perpetual company of Your Saints.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
~ The Roman Missal, Third Edition