PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Daily Journal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: May 22, 2012 – 11:16 am

PHILADELPHIA — The first defense witness in a groundbreaking clergy-abuse trial says the defendant lacked the authority to transfer priests within the Philadelphia archdiocese.

Monsignor William Lynn is the first Roman Catholic church official charged for allegedly helping transfer suspected predator-priests to new parishes.

Monsignor Joseph Garvin, former secretary for Catholic Human Services, testified Tuesday as the first defense witness.

He says Lynn could recommend that a priest be transferred — but says the cardinal ultimately makes the decision. That fits with Lynn’s argument that he took orders from Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.