Cardinal Bevilacqua ordered shredding of memo identifying suspected abusers

[edhopper]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120225_Court_filing__Bevilacqua_ordered_shredding_of_memo_identifying_suspected_abusers.html

Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua ordered aides to shred a 1994 memo that identified 35 Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests suspected of sexually abusing children, according to a new court filing.

The order, outlined in a handwritten note locked away for years at the archdiocese's Center City offices, was disclosed Friday by lawyers for Msgr. William J. Lynn, the former church administrator facing trial next month.

They say the shredding directive proves what Lynn has long claimed: that a church conspiracy to conceal clergy sex abuse was orchestrated at levels far above him.

"It is beyond doubt that Msgr. Lynn was completely unaware of this act of obstruction," attorneys Jeffrey Lindy and Thomas Bergstrom wrote.

Their motion asks Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina to dismiss the conspiracy and endangerment charges against Lynn, or to bar prosecutors from introducing Bevilacqua's videotaped testimony at trial.

The cardinal died Jan. 31.

When do they canonize him?

[Larkspur]

1. I'm sure he opposed contraception and abortion so he's a saint already

The pedophile priest scandal is why the Catholic bishops have lost their moral authority for at least a generation or more.

[enough]

2. How can anyone think this institution has any sort of moral authority over other people's

behavior?

[MarkCharles]

3. Only someone as dumb as a Republican can..

imagine that!!

[rug]

4. This was disclosed in a motion to dismiss the cnspiracy charge against the defendant monsignor.

But it only confirms his own part in the conspiracy to obstruct justice.

[Brettongarcia]

5. The Catholic cardinal, Bernard Law, was in the Vatican - to escape arrest in the US

Last I knew. Though he retired a few months ago.

He may try to return temporarily to the US, BUT hide from authorities.

Keep an eye out for Bernard Law. And report him to the Mass. Attny, Gen. if you see him.

[Iggo]

6. "When do they canonize him?"

Shit, I'm surprised they don't straight up make him Zombie Pope!