Prosecutors in Philadelphia deposed the 88-year-old Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua in case his declining health prevents his appearance at the March trial of three Philadelphia priests, a former teacher and a church administrator. The three priests and the former teacher are charged with raping boys. The church administrator, Msgr. William Lynn, right, Bevilacqua’s longtime secretary for clergy, is charged with felony child endangerment and conspiracy. Church lawyers fought to block the cardinal’s testimony—he suffers from cancer and dementia—but Judge M. Teresa Sarmina deemed him competent on Nov. 28. Defense lawyers argue that Lynn was following orders from Bevilacqua, who led the archdiocese from 1988 to 2003.
Bevilacqua Deposed in Philadelphia
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
The conclave that begins next Wednesday to elect a successor for Pope Francis is the first in 46 ½ years for which the Vatican hasn’t ordered a set of cassocks from the two best-known papal tailors.
Papabile: How do conclave watchers come up with their lists of the next pope—and should we trust them?
The people of God see the bishop of Rome as a teacher, but they also unquestionably see him as a father.
Since the death of Pope Francis, lists of his possible successors have proliferated on social media and in newspapers. Should you trust them?