PHILADELPHIA (PA)
PBS Newshour
[with video]
Transcript
MARGARET WARNER: A Philadelphia jury began deliberating today in a landmark criminal case against a Catholic Church official. Monsignor William Lynn is the first church figure to be targeted not for molesting children, but for concealing the abuse.
Lynn, secretary of the clergy for the Philadelphia Archdiocese for 12 years, is charged with conspiracy and endangering children. Prosecutors say he protected suspect priests, and reassigned them to jobs where they could abuse children. Closing arguments concluded yesterday after months of emotional testimony from victims of abuse, and Lynn himself taking the stand.
John Martin has been in court throughout the 11-week trial, covering the story for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and he joins me now.
Thank you for joining us.
Let’s start with, tell us a little bit more about Monsignor Lynn. What exactly did it mean to be clergy of the secretary — I mean, clergy of the — yes, secretary of the clergy.
JOHN MARTIN, The Philadelphia Inquirer: Secretary of the clergy, right.
MARGARET WARNER: And then what is he accused of actually doing in that job?
JOHN MARTIN: OK.
As secretary for clergy, he was the — more or less the human resources manager for all of the priests in the archdiocese in Philadelphia. He was the official who responded directly to Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. And he helped deal with their assignments, any time the priests had problems, transfers and such.
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