sex abuse scandal, he was the face of that crisis. advocating zero tolerance for abusers. i can t see how anyone in the united states today would cover up something like that. reporter: he was created a cardinal in 2001 by john paul ii. around that time, an american priest wrote to the vatican to warn him of rumors that the cardinal was sexually abusing seminari seminarians. no action was taken until mccarrick was quietly advised not to travel or be seen in public and lead a life of prayer and presence to avoid further rumors. a recommendation which the cardinal seemed to continued to appear in public even in the conclave that electled francis.