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…