Friday, August 12, 2011

Judge sets hearing on Cardinal Bevilacqua's competency to testify

A JUDGE  ordered a competency hearing next month for Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, the former head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, under whose leadership sex-abuse crimes occurred.

Prosecutors want Bevilacqua, 88, who led the Archdiocese from 1988 to 2003, to testify on videotape to preserve his testimony.

Bevilacqua is not charged with any crime. 

But his testimony could be used by prosecutors at next year's trial in the criminal case of Monsignor William Lynn, who was Bevilacqua's secretary for clergy and faces charges of child endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly transferring abusive priests to new parishes.

Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina set Sept. 12 for the competency hearing and told an attorney for Bevilacqua, Michael O'Mara, to submit Bevilacqua's medical records from the past two years before the hearing.