PHILADELPHIA PRIEST SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ROLE IN SEXUAL ABUSE CASE IN ARCHDIOCESE............

Monsignor William F. Lynn, a priest and former official of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to a prison term of 3 - 6 years, after his conviction last month on one charge of child endangerment, while overseeing priests' sexual abuse cases in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.  The trial determination that Monsignor Lynn was culpable of responsibility in the handling of the sexual abuse of children by priests, led to a landmark decision that for the first time charged and convicted a church official for failing to stop abuse by predator priests, transferring them to unknowing parishes, and covering up their crimes.  Msgr. Lynn is the highest ranking American Catholic cleric yet to be legally accused and prosecuted for covering up priests child abuse.  Common Pleas Court Judge Teresa Sarmina in sentencing Msgr. Lynn today said, "You knew full well what is right and chose to do wrong", and went on to say, that the as a responsible archdiocesan official he did not take, "appropraiate steps", to prevent the continuation of predator priests in ministry, stating, "He has been sentenced for his actions done knowingly".  Following the sentencing Msgr. Lynn's comment in response was, "I was helping priests and helping victims as best I could".  This conviction and sentencing was based on Lynn's handling of the case of a defrocked priest who plead guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy to threaten the welfare of a child, involving him and a 10 year old boy.  The 69 year old defrocked priest was sentenced to 2.5 - 5 years in prison.  Defense Attorneys argued for leniency and house arrest, calling seven character witnesses for Msgr. Lynn, while the Prosecuting Attorney asked for the maximum sentence of seven years for what he described as fourteen years  that were horrible and despicable in overseeing these matters.  A statement by the Philadelphia Arcdiocese today responded, "There is legitimate anger in the broad community toward an incident or enabling of sexual abuse"; going on to say the trial, "has been difficult for victims, and we profoundly regret their pain".  The statement also said, "Fair minded people will question the severity of the heavy, three to six year sentence imposed on Msgr. Lynn today.  We hope that when this punishment is objectively reviewed it will be adjusted".  Msgr. Lynn's defense attorney indicated the conviction will be appealed.  The sentencing of Msgr. Lynn coming the day after the NCAA'S fining of Penn State University over the Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, has at least one blogger saying the Catholic Church could learn from Penn State, by welcoming a Louie Freeh type investigation of pedophilia in American dioceses.  What the Lynn verdict and imprisonment does portend is that priests, and even directly acting on behalf of bishops, - will now be held accountable, prosecuted, and imprisoned, by juries and judges, as not only victims, but the general populace seek justice and hold the Church responsible for maintaining adherence to the law and for us as Disciples of Jesus Christ, the morality and ethics the Gospel teaches us............Fr.  Troy