PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Boston Globe

PHILADELPHIA—The judge overseeing a landmark priest-abuse case is refusing to step down. She says her comments about child-sex abuse being “widespread” in the Roman Catholic church were taken out of context.

Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina also declined Wednesday to sever Monsignor William Lynn’s case from those of two priests charged with rape.

Lynn served as secretary for clergy in Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004. He’s the first U.S. church official charged with child endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly transferring problem priests to unsuspecting parishes.