Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (b. June 17, 1923 at Brooklyn, New York)

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua is an American priest who rose to the highest levels of the Catholic Church. He was one of eleven children born to immigrant parents in Brooklyn. He entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, New York, in 1943 and was ordained in 1949.

As Father Bevilacqua, he served the diocese of Brooklyn for 34 years. During this time he also took several degrees, a doctorate in Canon Law from Gregorian University in Rome, his masters degree in political science from Columbia University, and a law degree, which he received at age 52.

Bevilacqua was ordained an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1980. He moved to the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1983. He then replaced John Cardinal Krol in Philadelphia in 1987.

During a fifteen year stewardship of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Bevilacqua is remembered for his frequent visits to churches in the diocese, his knowledge of fiscal matters, and his conservatism. Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee, he spoke at a vigil mass before the anniversary of Roe v. Wade in January 2002:

""My sisters and brothers, I am asking you to cry out. I am asking you to take up the pro-life banner by living pro-life lives every day and doing everything in your power to promote a pro-life lifestyle. Do not be afraid to speak up for life. Do not be afraid to speak up against whatever threatens life. If the weak and marginalized continue to be exploited, by our silence we betray not only our Christianity, but our humanity." [1]

He especially loved visiting schools and meeting the children of the diocese. Upon his 80th birthday, Bevilacqua officially retired as a cardinal on July 15, 2003. He was replaced by Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis.

In retirement, Bevilacqua has lived at his home on the grounds of the archdiocesan seminary in suburban Philadelphia. He was named in a lawsuit June 16, 2004 detailing alleged payments in November 2003 to silence a victim of sexual abuse, protecting a religious who is now in a undisclosed location [2]. It was reported in June 2004, that the Cardinal was in frail health resulting from the investigation into the sex abuse scandal that has plagued the Catholic Church.

External link

• Curriculum vitae in The daily catholic February 1, 1999