Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua Punished Monsignor Michael Picard For Raising Flag About Philadelphia Priest

The late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

PHILADELPHIA -- A Roman Catholic pastor was punished by the Philadelphia archdiocese for raising concerns about a priest being assigned to his parish, jurors learned Wednesday in a clergy-abuse trial.

Prosecutors offered the evidence to suggest the archdiocese blamed the messenger rather than address its brewing clergy-abuse problem in the 1990s.

Monsignor Michael Picard was punished for complaining when the priest was assigned to his Newtown, Pa., parish in 1996. Picard said he had heard disturbing information about the priest from reliable sources – and acted for the sake of his parish.

The late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, angry that Picard was rejecting his decision on the placements, ordered him to apologize and take a two-week retreat to reflect on his actions.

"Cardinal Bevilacqua noted that he will not tolerate even the appearance of disobedience by any priest," states a memo of a disciplinary meeting read in court Wednesday.

Monsignor William Lynn, 61, is charged with child endangerment for allegedly helping the archdiocese keep predators on the job. Lynn was secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004, most of it under Bevilacqua. Defense lawyers argue that Lynn took orders from the cardinal.

Prosecutors are detailing about 20 priest personnel files to try to convince the jury that church officials covered up sex-abuse complaints or admissions.

Picard testified later in the day, saying he never disobeyed the cardinal, only questioned the transfer. He continues to lead St. Andrew, but was not made a monsignor until 2010 – a title often bestowed on pastors within a few years.

The priest who was the subject of Picard's concern was sent to another parish in 1996. The archdiocese agreed he was "no angel," but said they had received no serious complaints about his work in three parishes over 15 years.

According to documents read in court, Picard told his superiors, "There are so many problems today for priests and the church, he thought he would stop this one."

In 2005, the priest rejected by Picard was accused of sexually assaulting a minor in 1982, according to prosecutors. The priest died in 2006.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Comments

[ryker88]

02:30 PM on 06/20/2012

Monsignor Michael Picard did the absolute right thing. The fact that he was punished speaks volumes. I left the church many years ago because of the hypocrisy I saw.
We used to say there's always one rotten apple in the barrel. Now we must say there's one good one in a barrel of rotten ones.
In my state- I worked around children- if one even suspectd a child is being abused it is a felony not to report it. And rightly so! I am sure there are similar laws in other states but it does not appear to be enforced much anywhere.
How tragic is it that those who should be looking out for the vulnerable have so terribly betrayed the trust we put in those wearing clerical collars!

[AZRINO]

08:53 PM on 06/19/2012

Another example of a church that is rotten from the cardinal level down! No wonder people are leaving the church in droves!

[SLuG1972]

09:13 AM on 05/04/2012

Wow, that is messed up...so many priests...its nice to finally hear about one who truly does care for his parish.

[Gregor53]

07:34 PM on 05/03/2012

Sounds like the Reformation all over again. Excommunication sure was an effective deterent to that particular division and Martin Luther was definitely isolated from the religious community - Not!. Except perhaps for most of Germany and other northern countries. Not even to mention King Henry VIII or the real schism between East and West when we have a "Since you excommunicated me, I excommunicate you" battle. It was like two kids throwing Mud at each other. Really changed the course of religious history big time and still the division exists today. Effective. The Vatican is determined to continue the same course traveled almost 2000 years AND use the same useless weapon we used in the Middle Ages, excommunication thinking this will stop humans from seeking and wanting more in life. How Appropriate.

[kittiecity]

03:44 PM on 05/03/2012

It would be nice to think that the Catholic church might some day decide to punish, rather than cover up, the commission of sex crimes against children. However, given how long it took them to officially accept that the earth is not flat....I'm not hopeful.

[FatherH]

01:44 PM on 06/20/2012

I wouldn't count on it.

[FatherH]

03:49 PM on 06/20/2012

When he was a Cardinal on Aug 6, 2000 Pope Benedict authored Dominues Jeus which was promulgated by John Paul II. It states in Section IV:17 
"Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the
Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in
communion with him.58 The Churches which, while not existing in
perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the
closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true
particular Churches.59 Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and
operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the
Catholic Church" Now if the Pope wrote that himself and John Paul signed it, it is me true.They are valid Sacraments says Rome.

[jrp1947]

03:01 PM on 05/03/2012

If Catholic priests truly believe they walk in the steps of Jesus then they should turn out every priest they know who is a child molester for Jesus would have never tolerated that. It is part of their job to protect the innocent and the children from the abuses of sinners and one of the greatest sinners on this planet is their own church by iut's collective actions in protecting molesting priests. the outside world cannot clean up the catholic church. Only it's good priests and it's followers can. What church amasses wealth in Rome and let's it's followers starve in underdeveloped parts of the world? Something is terribly wrong with this part of the Christian religion. the time for excuses is over.

[Barry Clarke]

01:03 PM on 05/03/2012

I wonder how many people leave the Catholic religion because of dark age philosophy?.........

[FatherH]

01:47 PM on 06/20/2012

The numbers are increasing daily. They are going to the Independent Catholic churches and Old Catholic churches whose numbers are growing. People are tired of being mistreated by the institutional church and see a sacramental valid alternative in the Old Catholic Church.

[TheStreak]

01:03 PM on 05/03/2012

Questioning the assignment of a priest is a punishable offense, but abusing little boys isnt???! Hm.

[RainbowSparkle]

02:43 PM on 05/03/2012

To the vatican and the rest of the church hierarchy, if they deny it; it never happened.

[bmitche]

12:37 PM on 05/03/2012

I think the problem is that many Priests in the Catholic Churches are finding it hard to follow the law of celibacy. Maybe the law should be reviewed, unless the idea is that the law is not broken if a female is not involved.

[MJA-W]

01:15 PM on 05/03/2012

Secondarily at fault is the vow of obedience.
While I understand why it exists, and the belief is that the further up the chain of command, the more God-inspired the authority is supposed to be, a fundamental is still that one priest was punished for following conscience and God's law, as opposed to the immoral law of his superior.
Since WHEN does a Cardinal have more power than God???

[Madim]

08:22 AM on 05/04/2012

Child abuse is NOT the effect of celibacy.
Forced celibacy leads to secretive consensual sex between adults, even, in some cases, secret marriages, but definitely not to rape of children.

[bmitche]

09:32 AM on 05/04/2012

If celibacy is not the cause, there has to be a reason the behavior is so prevalent.

[methnkng]

12:37 PM on 05/03/2012

More proof that the highest levels of the catholic church allowed the abused and the coverup.

[mixrbear]

12:36 PM on 05/03/2012

way to go church! protect your own. WHY do you people give these child molesters money again???? EVIL EVIL EVIL!

[firstamendment3]

12:34 PM on 05/03/2012

Bevilacqua should be dug up and put on trial with his bosses.

[ljnace]

12:31 PM on 05/03/2012

Nothing shocks me when it comes to the pope, priests, and the jerry fallwell's of the world. Oops almost forgot penn state.

[kilbyhanna]

12:22 PM on 05/03/2012

I don't understand how come women can't be catholic priests.

[Gregor53]

07:23 PM on 05/03/2012

Same reason the Augusta Country Club does not allow women members. It is the rule that was made by men.

[Iseeyourside]

12:15 PM on 05/03/2012

Religion is used to disguise the true evil