Monsignor Lynn Proves Why President Obama Must Step Up

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Christian Catholicism

Jerry Slevin

Monsignor Lynn’s trial court reversal, likely to be appealed further, turned on a narrow technical interpretation of a new statute. Importantly, the appellate court did not dispute the lower court’s substantial evidence about Lynn’s shameful role in shuffling several dozen predatory priests from parish to parish. Indeed, as reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer recently, the three appellate judge court indicated: “… We cannot dispute that the Commonwealth [ Philly prosecutors] presented more than adequate evidence to sufficiently demonstrate that [Lynn] prioritized the Archdiocese’s reputation over the safety of potential victims of sexually abusive priests and, by inference, that the same prioritization dominated [Lynn’s] handling of [an abusive priest], … “, the ruling said.

Paradoxically, Lynn’s trial reversal, and the current publicity it is generating, are helping the cause of curtailing priest abuse. They also keep the pressure on Pope Francis to address the issue of bishop accountability directly and transparently, after nine months mainly of avoiding it.

Once again, the inadequate US state law criminal process for prosecuting the US Catholic hierarchy has failed children. Pennsylvania state officials are too often restricted by narrow laws pushed often by the Pennsylvania Catholic bishops’ very influential and well funded lobbyists. President Obama needs to follow Australia’s effective lead now, and set up a US national commission to investigate institututional child sexual abuse and to propose new national legislation. For more, see, “A New Year’s Wish For a Catholic Church Democracy”, at: http://wp.me/P2YEZ3-W7 .

Incidentally, Fr. Kevin McDonough, the priest brother of President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, reportedly appears now potentially to be facing similar cover-up allegations in Minneapolis (USA). Significantly, the reported Minneapolis allegations in a couple of the reported cases involve the Vatican and relate also to Federal crimes, which may soon require Federal prosecutors, if they are not involved already. This may get sticky for the Obama Administration. Will Obama’s conservative opposition risk jeopardizing their current “political alliance” with US bishops and press Obama on any of the Minneapolis cases? Time should soon tell.

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