WPVI
November 18, 2011
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8437122
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| Pictured: Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua |
A Philadelphia judge ruled on Friday that Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua will not have to testify in court in a criminal priest-abuse case.
Instead, the 88-year-old Cardinal will be deposed at his home on November 28th.
Bevilacqua's attorneys maintain that he suffers from dementia and is unable to testify in court. Prosecutors argued that the Cardinal is competent and should testify.
Monsignor William Lynn, 60, the secretary for clergy under Bevilacqua, is charged with child endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly transferring predator priests to new parishes without warning.
Lawyers for Lynn say he was acting on orders from Bevilacqua, whom he served from 1992 to 2004.
He is the first U.S. church official charged in the priest-abuse scandal.
Three priests and a former teacher are charged with rape and are co-defendants in the case.
Bevilacqua, trained as both a canon and civil lawyer, led the Philadelphia archdiocese from 1988 to 2003.
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