Jury Back at Work in Philly Priest-abuse Trial

The Mercury
June 11, 2012

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120611/NEWS03/120619894/jury-back-at-work-in-philly-priest-abuse-trial

Monsignor William Lynn exits the Criminal Justice Center Wednesday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A jury is back at work for a sixth day in a groundbreaking priest-abuse trial in Philadelphia.

Seven men and five women are weighing charges that a Roman Catholic church official conspired to endanger children in the Philadelphia archdiocese by keeping predators in ministry.

Monsignor William Lynn says he took orders from his archbishop, and did what he could to get accused priests into treatment from 1992 to 2004.

Lynn is on trial with the Rev. James Brennan. The 49-year-old Brennan is accused of trying to rape a teen boy in 1996.

The 61-year-old Lynn, the former secretary for clergy, is charged with conspiracy and child endangerment.

The jury is the first in the country to consider criminal charges against a Catholic official for his handling of child sex-abuse complaints.

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