UNITED STATES
Daily Times
The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have had a lot on their plates in the last decade, dealing with accusations of clerical sexual abuse of minors and now, with criminal convictions of some priests.
Officials in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in particular have been through much with two Philadelphia grand jury reports on clerical sexual abuse resulting in the conviction of defrocked priest Edward Avery and Monsignor William Lynn — Avery for sexual abuse of a minor, Lynn for allowing Avery to have continued access to children after becoming aware of repeated abuse allegations against him.
Lynn has the dubious distinction of being the highest ranking Roman Catholic official in the United States convicted of child endangerment for essentially protecting a pedophile to avoid church scandal.
Archdiocesan officials will continue to deal with repercussions from sex abuse of children under their watch when, on Tuesday, the trial begins for the Rev. Charles Englehardt, a member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and former Catholic school lay teacher Bernard Shero, who are both accused of assaulting the same Philadelphia altar boy Avery pleaded guilty to assaulting.
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