PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Newsworks
March 26, 2012
By Eric Walter
The trial of Monsignor William Lynn, which began this week, signifies a major crisis for the Catholic Church. While priests have been accused or convicted of sex crimes against children, this marks the first time a church leader has been criminally charged with covering up such abuse.
The case is drawing national attention for that reason, and it is stirring up renewed outrage from Catholics and critics of the church alike.
Lynn’s lawyers say that widespread coverage of the case, especially in light of the recent last-minute guilty plea from defrocked priest Edward Avery to sexually abusing a young boy, will have tainted the jury.
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