By Julie Shaw
Philadelphia Inquirer
February 20, 2011
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/116568633.html?c=r
 |
| Msgr. William J. Lynn (left), indicted recently in a sexual abuse scandal, has been placed on administrative leave by Cardinal Justin Rigali (right). |
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Monsignor William Lynn - who was recently charged with child-endangerment offenses on allegations he covered up sexual abuse by other priests - was placed on administrative leave effective Friday.
Temporarily taking his place at St. Joseph Parish in Downingtown, Chester County, will be Monsignor Joseph McLoone, the pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester, Delaware County.
McLoone is the brother of Pat McLoone, the Daily News' managing editor.
Donna Farrell, archdiocese spokeswoman, said Monsignor McLoone will start services at St. Joseph's on Thursday. "He's a beloved pastor in his parish and he needed to tell his parishioners" this weekend that he will be at St. Joseph's, she said.
Saying Mass this weekend at St. Joseph's was Monsignor Joseph Marino, the Chester County vicar, Farrell said.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on Feb. 10 released a scathing grand-jury report accusing Lynn of endangering children by shielding pedophile priests from detection and shuffling them into unsuspecting parishes.
Prosecutors charged Lynn, 60, with two counts of child endangerment.
The grand jury, in its blistering report, also accused two priests, one former priest and a lay teacher of rape and related charges in connection with sexual offenses on two boys between 1996 and 2000. Charles Engelhardt, 64, and Edward Avery, 68, both priests; former priest James Brennan, 47; teacher Bernard Shero, 48; and Lynn were arrested the day the grand-jury report was released.
The arrests are believed to be the first time nationally that a high-ranking church official - Lynn - has been charged on allegations that he concealed priest sex-abuse.
The five accused men, who have posted bail, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 3 in Family Court.
shawj@phillynews.com 215-854-2592
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.