PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Daily News
By Sean Carlin
Daily News Staff Writer
AFTER AN 11-week trial, Msgr. William J Lynn was convicted of one count of child endangerment, making him the first Catholic official in the nation to be held criminally liable for priest child-abuse. Lynn, 61, was secretary for clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004.
The jury deadlocked on a child-abuse charge against his co-defendant, Rev. James J. Brennan, 48, who was charged with attempted rape of a 14-year-old boy in 1996.
Some of the highlights of the trial:
March 26: Trial begins with questions aimed at Lynn’s role in covering up sexual abuse in the church. Lynn and Brennan plead not guilty.
April 4: A 30-year-old man testifies that Brennan molested him during an overnight stay in 1996 when he was 14.
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