A Lot of Questions, No Verdict in Priest Sex Abuse Trial

NBC 10
June 6, 2012

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/A-Lot-of-Questions-No-Verdict-in-Priest-Sex-Abuse-Trial-157591955.html

[with video]

A Philadelphia jury will continue deliberations on Thursday in the priest sex abuse trial after failing to reach a verdict on Wednesday.

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 many questions this week.

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

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

The jury on Wednesday 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.