Prosecutors: Archdiocese Financially Motivated to Cover up Sexual Abuse by Priests

By Tony Hanson
CBS Philly
January 26, 2012

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/01/25/prosecutors-archdiocese-financially-motivated-to-cover-up-sexual-abuse-by-priests/

Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt, James Brennan, Bernard Shero, and William Lynn are charged in connection with sex crimes against children in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

The prosecution presents evidence of decades of what it calls “prior bad acts” it hopes to present in the clergy abuse trial. Authorities say this shows a pattern of ignoring abuse and protecting ‘predator priests’ long before the crimes allegedly committed in this case. Authorities allege the motive was money.

The prosecution has cited countless instances in which Archdiocesan officials were aware of alleged abuse by dozens of priests over decades, even cases in which priests admitted abuse, but allegedly the Archdiocese failed to act, often until the threat of a leak or legal action.

One prosecutor has told the court that was the concern of the Archdiocese. Another prosecutor told the court that church officials were not concerned about victims. They were concerned about liability, the almighty dollar, mother church.

There is a gag order in the case. All the charged defendants have pleaded not guilty.