Priest Convicted on Charge of Enabling Others To Sexually Abuse Children

In Philadelphia today, for the first time anywhere in the country, a priest who did not himself commit any act of child sexual molestation was criminally convicted for enabling or covering up clergy sex abuse by others.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that a jury, after 13 days of deliberations, found Msgr. William J. Lynn guilty on one count of endangerment.  He was acquitted on two other charges, one of conspiracy and a second endangerment charge. The jury deadlocked on charges of attempted rape and endangerment against Lynn's co-defendant, the Rev. James J. Brennan. Lynn served as the Philadelphia Archdiocese's chief investigator on clergy misconduct. Prosecutors claimed he failed to take sufficient steps to remove pedophile priests.