Philadelphia Monsignor to Be Released on Bail

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
The New York Times

By JON HURDLE
Published: December 30, 2013

PHILADELPHIA — A state judge ruled on Monday that a senior Catholic official who was sent to prison for his role in a sexual abuse scandal should be released on bail after an appeals court overturned his conviction for child endangerment.
Multimedia

Msgr. William J. Lynn, the most senior Catholic official to be convicted in connection with charges of sexual abuse of children by clergy members, was granted bail on Monday by Judge M. Teresa Sarmina of the Court of Common Pleas after the conviction reversal last week by the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

The appeals court ruled that prosecutors had provided “more than adequate” evidence that Monsignor Lynn “prioritized the archdiocese’s reputation over the safety of potential victims of sexually abusive priests.” But it rejected the argument, accepted at the trial last year, that a child welfare law applied to a “parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a child” could be used to prosecute Monsignor Lynn.

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