PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Church leaders called on parishioners Wednesday to pray for the soul of retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who led them for more than 15 years but was also an uncharged central figure in a child sex-abuse case that involves the alleged shuffling of predator priests. Bevilacqua, who was 88, died in his sleep at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer, according to archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Farrell. He had been... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI expressed “sadness” and sent condolences to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Wednesday over the death of retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who led the archdiocese for more than 15 years. Bevilacqua, who was 88, died in his sleep at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer, according to archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Farrell. He had been the spiritual leader of the 1.5 million-member Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, the retired head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and an uncharged central figure in a child sex-abuse case that involves the alleged shuffling of predator priests to unwitting parishes, has died. He was 88. Bevilacqua died in his sleep Tuesday night — days after lawyers battled over his competence to testify at an upcoming trial — at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in the Philadelphia suburb of Wynnewood after battling dementia and an undisclosed form... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than 15 years, championing the Vatican line on homosexuality and abortion but later coming under fire by two grand juries investigating child sex abuse allegations, has died. He was 88. Bevilacqua died in his sleep Tuesday night at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, a Philadelphia suburb, after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer, an archdiocese spokeswoman said. He had been... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than 15 years, who championed the Vatican line on homosexuality and abortion but later came under fire by two grand juries investigating child sex abuse allegations, has died. He was 88. Bevilacqua died in his sleep Tuesday night at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, a Philadelphia suburb, after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer, an archdiocese spokeswoman said. He had... Read more

MAE LA REFUGEE CAMP, Thailand (AP) — The pastor stood before more than 300 young Burmese refugees gathered for morning prayers in a weathered, jungle church. “There’s a time for war, and a time for peace. Sixty-three years is long enough for killing,” he told them. “Hope to see you all soon in our beautiful land.” Simon Htoo’s buoyant words would have been unlikely just a few months ago, but surprisingly rapid reforms and cease-fires under way in Myanmar are... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than 15 years, died Tuesday night at his suburban residence, a spokeswoman said. He was 88. Archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Farrell said Bevilacqua died in his sleep at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer. He had been the spiritual leader of the 1.5 million-member Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988 until his retirement in 2003. Bevilacqua,... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Retired Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than 15 years, died Tuesday night at his suburban residence, a spokeswoman said. He was 88. Bevilacqua died in his sleep at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Farrell said. He had been battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer. He served as the spiritual leader of the 1.5 million-member Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988 until his retirement in... Read more

DETROIT (AP) — An American Muslim group has appealed to Iran’s top leader to show clemency for an ex-U.S. military translator with dual citizenship condemned to death on accusations of being a CIA spy. A letter Tuesday from the Council on American-Islamic Relations asks Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to spare the life of Amir Hekmati. The 28-year-old ex-Marine was born in Arizona and attended high school in Michigan. His Iran-born father is a professor at Mott Community College in... Read more

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Lawyers for the 16-year-old Rhode Island atheist who sued over a prayer banner displayed at a public high school are asking a court to order the city of Cranston to pay $173,000 in attorneys’ fees. The request was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence by lawyers retained by the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The lawyers sued Cranston and its school committee on behalf of Jessica Ahlquist, a junior at... Read more