Bevilacqua talks

But it’s unclear how much he was able to say.  Details:

A retired Roman Catholic cardinal testified behind closed doors for about three hours Monday as lawyers prepare for a groundbreaking priest-abuse trial in Philadelphia.

Prosecutors deposed Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua in case he cannot appear for the March trial of three accused priests, an ex-teacher and a church administrator. The deposition was set to resume Tuesday at the cardinal’s residence at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, just outside the city.

Bevilacqua, 88, suffers from cancer and dementia, and church lawyers fought to block his testimony. However, Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina deemed him competent Monday after reviewing his medical records and meeting with him Monday morning, her office said.

Monsignor William Lynn, his longtime secretary for clergy, is charged with felony child endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly transferring predator priests without warning new parishes. Lynn, 60, is the first Roman Catholic church official charged in the U.S. for his administrative actions. Three priests and a former teacher are charged with raping boys.

Defense lawyers argue that Lynn was following orders from Bevilacqua, who led the archdiocese from 1988 to 2003. Lynn served as secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004.

More than a dozen prosecutors, defense lawyers, defendants and court staff were on hand for Bevilacqua’s deposition. Given his health problems, it’s unclear how much his testimony helped city prosecutors who had sought it. A gag order prevents the parties from publicly discussing the case.

Read the rest.