Cardinal whose career was tainted by priest sex abuse cover-up

ANTHONY BEVILACQUA US CATHOLIC CARDINAL 17-6-1923-31-1-2012

By InvestSMART · 9 Feb 2012

By InvestSMART ·
9 Feb 2012

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ANTHONY BEVILACQUA

US CATHOLIC CARDINAL

17-6-192331-1-2012

ANTHONY Bevilacqua, a former cardinal and archbishop of Philadelphia whose passion for Roman Catholic causes such as helping the poor and fighting abortion was eclipsed in retirement by accusations that he had covered up sexual abuse by priests, has died aged 88.

Bevilacqua was archbishop from 1988 until his retirement in 2003. Pope John Paul II elevated him to cardinal in 1991.

In Philadelphia, as in previous leadership positions in Pittsburgh and Brooklyn, he pushed the church to help immigrants, presided over cutbacks in Catholic parishes and schools, spoke out against homosexuality and abortion, and built up a lay ministry to compensate for the declining corps of priests.

But Bevilacqua's last years were caught up in investigations of priests accused of sexually abusing altar boys.

In September 2005, a grand jury report on a 40-month investigation of clerical sex abuse accused him and his predecessor of allowing hundreds of abusive priests to go unpunished and ignoring the victims.

The grand jury said weak laws prevented it from recommending criminal charges. Its report said: "He tried to hide all he knew about sex abuse committed by his priests."

A second grand jury is investigating charges against an underling, but Bevilacqua died before he could be compelled to testify.

He was born in Brooklyn on June 17, 1923, the ninth of 11 children of Italian immigrants.

His declaration that homosexuals, even ones who accept celibacy, cannot be priests enraged gay-rights advocates. He said a heterosexual gives up "a very good thing", a wife and children, to be a priest.

A homosexual, by contrast, he said, gives up "what the church considers an aberration, a moral evil".

The accusations about his role in the sex-abuse scandals did not surface until two years after his retirement.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who was Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua and what positions did he hold in the Catholic Church?

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua was a senior US Catholic prelate who served as archbishop of Philadelphia from 1988 until his retirement in 2003. Pope John Paul II elevated him to cardinal in 1991. He had earlier leadership roles in Pittsburgh and Brooklyn.

What are the main allegations against Cardinal Bevilacqua described in the article?

The article reports that a 2005 grand jury accused Bevilacqua and his predecessor of allowing hundreds of abusive priests to go unpunished and of ignoring victims. The grand jury said he tried to hide what he knew about sex abuse committed by his priests.

When did the grand jury report about clerical sex abuse in Philadelphia come out and what did it find?

The grand jury report was published in September 2005 after a 40-month investigation. It accused church leaders, including Bevilacqua, of permitting many abusive priests to remain unpunished and said weak laws prevented the panel from recommending criminal charges.

Did Cardinal Bevilacqua face criminal charges or testify about the allegations?

According to the article, weak laws prevented the 2005 grand jury from recommending criminal charges. A second grand jury was investigating charges against an underling, but Bevilacqua died before he could be compelled to testify.

What church policies and public stances of Bevilacqua are mentioned in the article?

The article notes that Bevilacqua pushed the church to help immigrants, presided over cutbacks in parishes and schools, built up a lay ministry to offset fewer priests, opposed abortion, and publicly declared that homosexuals—even those who accept celibacy—could not be priests.

How did the accusations affect the public view of Bevilacqua later in life?

The article says Bevilacqua’s retirement years were clouded by investigations into priests accused of sexually abusing altar boys, and that the grand jury’s findings tarnished his legacy by accusing him of hiding abuse.

Does the article provide information about financial or donation impacts to the Church from these scandals?

No. The article focuses on Bevilacqua’s biography, leadership actions and the grand jury allegations; it does not provide details about financial, donation or market impacts related to the scandals.

What key dates and personal background details about Bevilacqua does the article include?

The article states he was born in Brooklyn on June 17, 1923, was archbishop of Philadelphia from 1988 to 2003, made a cardinal in 1991, and died at age 88. It also notes the abuse allegations surfaced two years after his retirement.