SNAP Wisconsin
October 6, 2011
http://www.snapwisconsin.com/blog/2011/10/05/monsignor-lynn-charged-with-child-endangerment-receieves-a-standing-ovation/
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The Philadelphia Inquirer published a story about a special dinner that was held in honor of the new Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles J. Chaput. The dinner was a private affair, requiring an invitation, which took place shortly after Chaput's installation. The invitation list included, according to sources, priests who had been placed on suspension following the release of the Grand Jury Report.
The findings of the Grand Jury Report resulted in the suspension of 21 priests from active ministry in the archdiocese of Philadelphia for credible reports of sexual abuse or other inappropriate behavior with children. The report also resulted in criminal charges being filed against priests Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt, and James Brennan for the rape and sexual assault of a child. Catholic school teacher Bernard Shero was also charged with sexual assault.
In addition to charges being filed against these men for the rape of children the Grand Jury also charged Monsignor William Lynn with endangering the welfare of children. Lynn had served as Secretary of the Clergy from 1992 to 2004 under Cardinal Belivacqua. As Secretary of the Clergy, Lynn was responsible for investigating sex abuse reports made against priests, and then placing these priests in future assignments.
The priests who were criminally charged by the Grand Jury for the sexual assault of children were well known to Monsignor Lynn; the Grand Jury concluded that "The rapist priests we accuse were well known to the Secretary of the Clergy, but he cloaked their conduct and put them in place to do it again". It was Lynn's responsibility to ensure that the children in the archdiocese of Philadelphia were protected from predator priests. The Grand Jury found that "evidence presented to the Grand Jury substantiates that Monsignor Lynn repeatedly abdicated this responsibility and not through negligence or incompetence…but deliberately over decades".
Monsignor Lynn was one of those in attendance at the dinner honoring the new archbishop, and according to sources familiar with the event, the new shepherd of the diocese singled him out for special attention.
In calling attention to Lynn the new prelate could have made a declaration that in the future the cover up of clergy sex crimes would no longer be tolerated in the archdiocese of Philadelphia. He might have stated that after three Grand Jury reports which showed that the concealment and cover up of child sex crimes was still occurring, it might be time to try a new approach.
Instead, according to sources, which include a priest who attended the dinner, the new archbishop singled out the monsignor, and declared that this whole experience must be quite an ordeal for him. With that the room erupted in applause and the crowd proceeded to give the monsignor a standing ovation.
Chaput had previously stated in an interview that "It's really important to me, and I think to all of us that he (Lynn) be treated fairly and that he not be made a scapegoat".
As bishop of Denver Chaput led the fight to defeat legislation that would have given victims of childhood sexual abuse the ability to hold their abusers accountable in a court of law. The sponsor of the proposed legislation then state senate president Joan, Fitz-Gerald, said that "the diocese fought opening a window on the statute of limitations with everything they had…any conversation about what was fair and just for victims fell on deaf ears".
A victim/survivor who met with Chaput, while he was bishop of Denver, to discuss his abuse, stated that "He was cold as ice…his demeanor was like I don't have time, hurry up and get your story done".
Chaput provided Monsignor Lynn with anything but a chilly reception, sending him what the Philadelphia Inquirer referred to as "one of the strongest signals of his support for Lynn since his arrest and suspension from ministry in February". Chaput, and Lynn's brother priests, who rose from their chairs in applause, have indicated that they stand with the Monsignor.
There are many in Philadelphia who deserve a standing ovation, however Monsignor Lynn is not one of those individuals. Rather a standing ovation should be given to the District Attorney of Philadelphia, Seth Williams, a Catholic who had the courage to expose the continued sexual victimization of children in his church. A standing ovation should be given to the members of the Grand Jury who listened to hours of testimony about children who were violated and knowingly put in danger. Most importantly a standing ovation should be given to the victim/survivors of the archdiocese of Philadelphia for their bravery and courage in coming forward to expose the crimes that were committed against them in an effort to protect future children from sexual abuse.
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