So, my blogging friends, what is new in the world of justice today? Well, I would be more than happy to tell you!
Opening arguments began Monday in the sex abuse trial of church official Monsignor William Lynn who is accused of covering up evidence of sexual abuse. Lynn served as the secretary for clergy under the former Philadelphia archbishop.
Monsignor WIlliam Lynn and the Rev. James Brennan appeared before the Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina inside a nearly filled Philadelphia courtroom. Commonwealth prosecutor Jacqueline Coelho told jurors in her nearly hour long opening statement that Lynn's role was to protect priests, the church and privacy "at any cost."
From 1992 until 2004, Lynn was responsible for investigating reports that priests had sexually abused children. Brennan, 48, is accused of assaulting a 14 year old boy in 1996.
BOTH PLED NOT GUILTY.
Last year a Philadelphia Grand Jury report accused the archdiocese of failing to investigate claims of sexual abuse of children by priests. The Grand Jury report led to the Philadelphia district attorneys office criminally charging four Philadelphia priests and a parochial school teacher with raping and assaulting boys in their care, while Lynn was accused of allowing the abusive priests to have access to children.
The charges are unusual because they go beyond accusations against priests and included a church higher up charged with covering up the abuse, which church experts say has never happened in the United States before.
Lynn would face a maximum of 14 years in prison if convicted of all charges
A total of 23 priests in the Philadelphia are have been placed on administrative leave by the archdiocese, 21 on March 7, 2011.
It's sad that when someone who is suppose to guide you through your journey in life, and teach you the right way about life and God does this to children.
I guess the saying still goes ... "innocent until proven guilty"....
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