Lynn was acquitted of conspiring with that boy's abuser, defrocked priest Edward V. Avery, to endanger the welfare of D.G. and/or other minors. Avery pled guilty between the time the jury was selected and the trial started to the first-degree felony of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse for sexually abusing D.G. The priest also pled guilty to the third-degree felony of conspiracy to endanger the welfare of children by conspiring with church officials to conceal his history of sexual abuse from Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia parishioners and keep him in ministry.
The Legal is not naming the known and alleged victims.
D.G. testified that, at the age of 10, when he was an altar server, he was not warned that Avery was a danger to him despite the archdiocese being told in 1992 that Avery had touched a man's genitals when he was 15 years old and again when he was 18. D.G. testified that Avery retained him two times after D.G. served Mass with him and he sexually abused him.
Lynn admitted to a "lie" regarding Avery when he testified.
When Avery was removed from a parish, Lynn memorialized that he had told parishioners there were nothing but complimentary reports about Avery. But Lynn had received a report in 1992 about Avery touching a man's genitals.
Lynn said he was trying to put "out a fire" in which different factions of the church were accusing each other of getting Avery removed. Lynn also said that he was not permitted to tell parishioners that the reason Avery was removed was because of the sexual-abuse allegation.
Lynn also was acquitted of endangering the welfare of M.B., who said Lynn's co-defendant, the Rev. James J. Brennan, tried to rape him.
The jury hung on the attempted rape and endangering the welfare of child charges Brennan faced. Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina declared a mistrial.
After the prosecution closed its case and before the defense started, Sarmina acquitted Lynn and Brennan of conspiring to endanger the welfare of M.B. and other youths.
Bail Revocation
Immediately after the jury exited the courtroom, prosecutor Patrick Blessington moved to revoke Lynn's bail until his Aug. 13 sentencing, which ignited a heated argument between the parties about whether or not Lynn was either a flight risk or a danger to the community. His family members and other supporters looked on, teary-eyed.
Blessington argued that Lynn has the Catholic Church's backing and a "great incentive to flee," while Lindy maintained that Lynn does not have a passport.
Blessington said the defense was seeking special treatment for Lynn because of who he is.
"If he were a street corner guy from Kensington or South Philly, would he be treated any differently?" he asked. "Treat him like the criminal he now is."
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adele pace
I'd like to see a Federal Rico prosecution of the Catholic Church, but I wonder whether it will ever happen.
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the church is not God
The entire Catholic church should have been charged under RICO (Racketeering In Corrupt Organizations) because the church as an organization abetted and covered up the criminal wide-spread abuse of children by it's priests. The church is a large corporation, just like Exxon, Bank of America, or many others. It is not immune or outside the laws of the country just because it is a religious organization. The church should be brought to account for its actions, but it won't because they are afraid they will offend God or not get into "heaven". Well anyone that refuses to protect the innocent or allow others to abuse the innocent will not get into "heaven".
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