No Verdict from Philadelphia Priest-Abuse Jury

By Maryclaire Dale
Daily Local News
June 6, 2012

http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20120606/NEWS03/120609689/no-verdict-from-philadelphia-priest-abuse-jury

Monsignor William Lynn walks to the Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, June 6, 2012, in Philadelphia. Lynn is the first Roman Catholic church official in the U.S. ever charged with child endangerment, for allegedly keeping co-defendants former priest Edward V. Avery and the Rev. James J. Brennan, and other accused predators, in ministry.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia jury has deliberated a fourth day without reaching a verdict in a major clergy-abuse case.

Jurors are set to return Thursday after asking frequent questions this week.

Monsignor William Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged with crimes for his handling of child sex-abuse complaints at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He's charged with conspiracy and child endangerment.

The Rev. James Brennan is charged with molesting a teen in 1996.

The jury deliberations follow 10 weeks of evidence.

The jury Wednesday has asked the judge to define the term "agreement" under conspiracy law and asked if conspirators have to know that what they're planning is a crime.

The judge says they do not. However, child endangerment has to be done knowingly.