Victim Describes Sex Abuse by Philadelphia Priest Previously Named As Pedophile

By Tony Hanson
CBS Philly
April 25, 2012

philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/04/25/victim-describes-sex-abuse-by-philadelphia-priest-previously-named-as-pedophile/


PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Today was another day of disturbing and potentially devastating testimony in the clergy abuse case, as two victims of admitted predator priest Edward Avery describe the abuse to the jury.

Monsignor William Lynn is charged with endangering the second victim by not removing Avery from ministry after the first victim came forward.

The first victim told the jury he was molested by Father Edward Avery and came forward a decade later, in 1992, because he was concerned that Avery could hurt others.

In a soft voice at times choked with emotion, the second victim, now 23, today said he was assaulted during the 1998-99 school year, when he was a 10-year-old altar boy. He says Avery sexually assaulted him twice, telling him afterward that he "did a good job" and that God loves him.

But, according to the victim, it sent his life spiraling downward, with poor school performance and eventually chronic drug use.

Avery was later defrocked and has pleaded guilty to child sex abuse (see related story).

The defense contends that Monsignor Lynn did take appropriate action, directing Avery to therapy and treatment. The defense also contends that the archbishop had final say on priest placements (see related story).