Rigali is asked to testify before grand jury

CARDINAL JUSTIN Rigali, eight months on the job, has been contacted by a Philadelphia grand jury probing Catholic priests' sexual abuse of minors, the Daily News has learned.

The nature of Rigali's appearance, and whether it has occurred, could not be determined.

Legal experts say it makes sense to call the cardinal - in effect the new chief executive of an organization under investigation - without any suggestion of liability on his part.

The cardinal's testimony would follow repeated appearances by retired Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, Rigali's predecessor. It comes amid indications the archdiocese is wrestling with a prosecution offer to plead guilty to coverup-related charges.

Any plea is expected to include the archdiocese's accepting responsibility for alleged improper conduct by pleading guilty, probably as a misdemeanor.

Sources said the D.A.'s request suggested strongly there would be no prosecution of Bevilacqua or other priest-administrators in exchange for a plea that would wrap up the investigation.

But influential figures on the archdiocese's side are opposing any deal that would acknowledge guilt. They liken the grand jury to a witch-hunt that's far out of proportion with the church's response to long-ago crimes and that ignores recent reform efforts.

Article here.