PENNSYLVANIA
Pocono Record
July 22, 2012
Editorial
Being locked up in jail must be a shock indeed to a man who lived and worked for decades in the rarefied atmosphere of high officials in the Roman Catholic Church. But just because he wore the mantle of the church doesn’t mean Monsignor William Lynn, convicted last month of endangering children in a landmark priest-abuse case, should escape an appropriate sentence for his wrongdoing.
A jury convicted Lynn of one count of felony child endangerment among many accusations that in his position he knowingly shielded priests who were child molesters. He was the first U.S. church official convicted of endangerment.
The verdict stemmed from a case involving Lynn’s tenure as secretary for the clergy in the Diocese of Philadelphia, under the leadership of then-Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. Lynn handled priest assignments and abuse complaints.
Now Lynn is arguing that he should serve house arrest, community service, work release or probation. He’s to be sentenced on Tuesday, and faces up to seven years in jail.
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