Priests, Teacher Returning to Court, by James Mcginnis, Philly Burbs, March 25, 2011

Priests, Teacher Returning to Court

By James Mcginnis
Philly Burbs
March 25, 2011

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/priests-teacher-returning-to-court/article_90862442-56f4-11e0-9005-00127992bc8b.html

Theresa Coleman, of North Wales, Pa., protests along with others outside Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul before an Ash Wednesday Mass in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 9, 2011. The Philadelphia archdiocese suspended 21 Roman Catholic priests Tuesday, who were named as child molestation suspects in a scathing grand jury report released in February. The priests have been removed from ministry while their cases are reviewed, Cardinal Justin Rigali said.

Four Archdiocesan priests and parochial school teacher from Bristol are expected at court in Philadelphia this afternoon for the second hearing since their arrest in February.

The Rev. James Brennan, who held positions at St. Andrew parish in Newtown Township and Assumption BVM in Feasterville, has already drawn sharp criticism from Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes after statements the priest made about the reimbursement of his legal bills.

During a March 13 hearing, Brennan said he expected the church to pay his legal bills if acquitted. Hughes said such a payment arrangement with the church would give him a disincentive to negotiate with the prosecutors, because his legal expenses might not be paid if he spoke out against the church.

A spokeswoman for the archdiocese said the church had no intention of paying for Brennan's defense regardless of the outcome of the case.

Through his attorney, Brennan has denied allegations that he raped a 14-year-old boy he met during his position as parochial vicar for St. Andrew church. Brennan's attorney, Richard DeSipio, said that the boy accuser, now 29, is a convicted felon with a criminal history of deception.

The February grand jury report released prior to Brennan's arrest acknowledges that the accuser suffered from "significant psychological and substance abuse problems and attempted suicide" but it also states that, prior to the alleged rape, he was a "happy, well-adjusted boy who played several sports and had no problems in school."

Brennan's attorney is also questioning whether the Philadelphia District Attorney's office should be allowed to bring charges since the alleged rape occurred at the priest's apartment in Chester County.

Prosecutors allege Bernard Shero, of Bristol, raped a boy from St. Jerome's School in Philadelphia, where Shero taught sixth grade.

The grand jury report describes Shero as raping a 10-year-old altar server who was also sexually abused by two other defendants, the Revs. Charles Engelhardt and Edward Avery.

Shero held positions with elementary schools in Lower Bucks including Immaculate Conception in Bristol Township, St. Joseph the Worker in Falls, the former Queen of the Universe school in Middletown, St. Michael the Archangel in Tullytown and St. Thomas Aquinas in Croydon, according to the archdiocese.

Church officials said Shero was removed from his teaching position at St. Thomas on Feb. 2, 2009, just days after the archdiocese said it was notified of the allegations.

But, of the five cases, the arrest of the Msgr. William Lynn marks the first time that a member of the Catholic hierarchy in the United States has been charged with child endangerment.

Prosecutors allege that Lynn, former secretary for the clergy under Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, had a duty to report priests such as Brennan with alleged sexual misconduct to prosecution and or rehabilitation.