The Philadelphia judge who presided over the first trial in the country of a Catholic Church official charged with endangering the welfare of children abused by other priests said that it was necessary to admit into evidence several unconnected files of sexually abusive priests so the jury could decide if the defendant had disregarded the danger posed by abusive priests.
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina, writing in a 235-page opinion required under procedural rules in the appeal of Monsignor William J. Lynn, said that it was appropriate to admit evidence about 20 priests whose files Lynn reviewed as part of his human resources role with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
