DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) A judge ruled Wednesday that a 93-year-old former Roman Catholic cardinal is not competent to stand trial after both prosecutors and defense attorneys determined he suffers from dementia, and dismissed charges he sexually assaulted a teenage boy in Massachusetts decades ago.

Theodore McCarrick , the ex-archbishop of Washington, D.C., was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after an internal Vatican investigation determined he sexually molested adults as well as children. The case created a credibility crisis for the church, as the Vatican had reports from authoritative cardinals dating to 1999 that McCarricks behavior was problematic, yet he became an influential cardinal, kingmaker and emissary of the Holy Sees soft diplomacy.

The once-powerful American prelate faced charges that he abused the teenage boy at a wedding reception at Wellesley College in 1974.

During Wednesdays hearing, a psychologist hired by the prosecution said she found significant deficits in McCarricks memory during two interviews in June, and he was often unable to recall what they had discussed from one hour to the next. Dr. Kerry Nelligan said she administered a number of tests on two occasions in June. As with any form of dementia, she said there are no medications that could improve the symptoms.

Its not just that he currently has these deficits, Nelligan said. There is no way they are going to get better.

Without being able to remember discussions, he could not participate with his lawyers in his defense, she said.