Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was appointed a distinguished visiting scholar in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

McCarrick, who served as archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington from 2001 to 2006, will study the role of religion in diplomacy and the responsibilities of religious leaders, according to an LOC press release. 

The Kluge Center aims to provide scholars with the opportunity to study their specialties with LOC resources as well as allow them to interact with Members of Congress.

McCarrick earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., as well as a second master’s degree and a doctoral degree from Catholic University of America. He was ordained a priest in 1958.

In 1996, he served on Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad. He was also a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom from 1999 to 2001.

During his time as archbishop, McCarrick served as chancellor of Catholic University of America and as president of the board of trustees of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.