PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Centre Daily Times
By MARYCLAIRE DALE — The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — A Roman Catholic church official wants a judge to step down before his child-endangerment trial because of her recent remarks about the child sex-abuse scandal.
Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina suggested in court that the priest-abuse scandal is “widespread.” At a pretrial hearing, she said those who think otherwise are “living on another planet.”
Sarmina is presiding over the groundbreaking conspiracy and child-endangerment case of Monsignor William Lynn.
The 61-year-old Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged for allegedly keeping predator-priests in ministry. He faces up to 28 years if convicted on all charges.
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