Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, the retired head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the architect of the application of Ex Corde Ecclesiae for Catholic higher education in the United States., has died. He was 88.
Bevilacqua died in his sleep Tuesday night at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in the Philadelphia suburb of Wynnewood after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer, an archdiocese spokeswoman told the AP. He had been the spiritual leader of the 1.5 million-member Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988 until his retirement in 2003.
Cardinal Bevilacqua, who chaired the Sub-Committee of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Implementation of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, said of Ex Corde Ecclesiae in 1999:
“This is a win-win situation for everyone: for our Catholic colleges and universities, for our Catholic students and their parents, and for the Church. This is a teaching document which will enhance all Catholic colleges and universities.”
“It provides for relationship, but not intrusion,” said Cardinal Bevilacqua. “The document helps to solidify and strengthen the relationship between Catholic universities and colleges and their local bishops. It says that theologians teaching at Catholic colleges and universities must be in unity with Catholic Church teaching. It supports true academic freedom for teachers of theology. They can still express personal opinions, but must clearly qualify them as such. Ultimately, Ex Corde will assist the Catholic colleges and universities in their mission of promoting their Catholic identity.”
Cardinal Bevilacqua also headed the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
Adam Wilson
CNS Staff
Matthew Archbold
Charlotte Hays
2 Comments
Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord……
Today we have had a marvelous example that God is with us. Cardinal Bevilaqua died in his sleep last night at 88. He served the Church since entering the seminary at age 14 , 9th child of 11 of Italian immigrants to Brooklyn with civil and canon law degrees to his credit. We are about to have a trial in March charging his assistant, Msgr Lynn, of criminal conspiracy and neglect to stop pedophile priests. He was called to testify but his doctors said his cancer and moderate dementia made it impossible for him to participate in the trial. That infuriated the prosecution. Judge Theresa Sarmina who is trying the case, went to the seminary herself to meet with the Cardinal and decided that her JD degree overruled his doctor’s MD degree and she declared he was competent and he was fit enough to take the stand. Well God thought otherwise!! Praise the Lord.