Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
Updated: Today at 12:50 AM
By JOHN P. MARTIN and JOSHUA FERNANDEZ The Philadelphia Inquirer
In a historic but private hearing, a judge and lawyers began questioning Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua on Monday about how he and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia responded to years of allegations that its priests sexually abused children.
Bevilacqua, 88, testified for nearly three hours Monday. His testimony will resume this morning, according to a statement released by Common Pleas Court M. Teresa Sarmina.
Sarmina opened the proceeding by questioning the cardinal and declaring him competent to testify. Lawyers for Bevilacqua had argued he suffers from dementia and is unfit to answer questions.
But her brief statement included no details about the hearing inside the cardinal’s residence on the grounds of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary off City Avenue.
The planned deposition followed months of legal sparring between prosecutors, lawyers for the cardinal and lawyers for Msgr. William J. Lynn, a former aide to Bevilacqua charged with recommending two priests for assignments that gave them access to children. Prosecutors contend those priests later assaulted two boys.
The deposition could last days.
Prosecutors had asked for the proceedings to occur in open court. Ruling on a request from Bevilacqua’s attorney, Brian McMonagle, Sarmina agreed to a closed hearing at the cardinal’s residence.