PHILADELPHIA (PA)
UPI
PHILADELPHIA, March 26 (UPI) — A former high-ranking Catholic official accused of hiding Philadelphia alleged priest sex abuse acted as if his job was to shield the abuser, a prosecutor said.
Msgr. William Lynn “would have done something about the allegations” if he were “thinking about kids first” when he handled allegations of sexual abuse by priests from 1992 to 2004, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington said at a pretrial court hearing Friday ahead of opening arguments set to begin Monday.
Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of endangering the welfare of children, is the highest-ranking member of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy to have his case reach trial on charges related to coverup allegations.
The opening arguments at the state Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, were to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT, but might be postponed, lawyers said.
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