Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua – Diocese of Brooklyn

On Behalf of | Feb 14, 2020 | Catholic Church

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua

Diocese of Brooklyn

Ordained: 1949

Elevated: 1991

Died: 2012

Assigned as follows:

  • 1950: Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and St. Stephen’s (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1951-1953: Holy Cross (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1954-1956: On Duty Outside the Diocese; North American College (Rome, Italy) 
  • 1957: Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph (Brentwood, NY)
  • 1958-1965: Assistant-Chancellors and Notaries; Holy Name (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1966-1973: Vice-Chancellor (Brooklyn, NY); Holy Name (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1973-1975: Vice-Chancellor, Diocese of Brooklyn, NY; Chancery Residence (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1976-1978: Chancellor, Diocese of Brooklyn, NY; Chancery Residence (Brooklyn, NY) 
  • 1979-1983: Chancellor, Diocese of Brooklyn, NY; Curial Residence (Brooklyn, NY) 
  • 1981-1983: Auxiliary to the Bishop (Brooklyn, NY)  
  • 1983-1985: Bishop of Pittsburgh, PA; St. Paul’s Cathedral (Pittsburgh, PA) 
  • 1984-1987: Bishop of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) 
  • 1988-2003: Archbishop of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) 

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua:

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua earned a Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and a civil law degree from Saint John’s University. He held several influential positions in the Chancery of the Diocese of Brooklyn prior to being appointed as Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1983. He was installed as Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1988, then elevated to Cardinal in 1991. 

According to media reports, Bevilacqua testified on at least 10 occasions before multiple Grand Jury proceedings and investigations regarding Philadelphia priests accused of sexual abuse of minors. In 2018, he was named in a child sexual abuse lawsuit for allegedly abusing a minor girl in the 1980s at St. Gabriel’s in Whitehall, Pennsylvania. The victim stated that he went to adjust her school uniform and groped her.

Bevilacqua retired in 2003 and died in 2012.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Brooklyn, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.