Philly Church Official Facing Triple Accuser

By Maryclaire Dale
WTRF
April 25, 2012

http://www.wtrf.com/story/17728142/philly-church-official-facing-triple-accuser

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A key witness is set to testify Wednesday in a groundbreaking clergy-abuse case in Philadelphia.

The former altar boy says he was raped by two priests and a teacher in the late 1990s.

And he says the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had an earlier complaint against 1 of them.

Defense lawyers have attacked the man's credibility based on his history of drug and legal problems.

But one defendant, defrocked priest Edward Avery, pleaded guilty days before trial.

Jurors don't know about the plea, but could learn of it if defense lawyers go too far in challenging the witness.

The lawyers are defending Monsignor William Lynn, a former secretary for clergy charged with child endangerment for keeping accused priests in ministry.

The other priest and teacher will be tried separately.