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  Group Wants Cardinal Bevilacqua Probe

My Fox Philly
February 23, 2011

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/group-wants-cardinal-bevilacqua-probe

[with video]

A group that represents children allegedly abused by Catholic priests wants two Grand Juries to investigate former Philadelphia archbishop Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.

SNAP had released copies of memos it says shows Bevilacqua knew about abusing priests as far back as the 1970s.

It wants grand juries seated in two cities to hear evidence of what they say is a possible cover-up of clergy sex crimes. .

SNAP released memos from back in the 1970s and 1980s, which it says shows retired Cardinal Bevilacqua allegedly kept quiet about a sexually abusive priest.

SNAP says then Auxiliary Bishop Bevilacqua knew about a priest's attempts to rejoin the diocese of Brooklyn, New York after the priest had undergone therapy for allegedly abusing young boys.

One memo bearing Bevilacqua's name says, "an assignment to the diocese would be too much of a risk."

The same document says Bevilacqua recommended the priest "seek an assignment outside the diocese."

A Philadelphia grand jury indicted four priests two weeks ago including one of Bevilaqua's top aides.

It considered charges against Bevilacqua, but stopped short of charging the 87-year-old cardinal saying it lacked enough evidence.

A spokeswoman for archdiocese said there would be no comment from the cardinal or the archdiocese on the memos.

 
 

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