Landmark sexual-abuse trial: Monsignor called 'keeper of secrets
Source: The Los Angeles TImes
The first Catholic Church official to go on trial for allegedly covering up sexual abuse of children by predator priests was described by prosecutors Monday as more concerned with protecting the church than children.
Prosecutors in Philadelphia told jurors in opening statements that Monsignor William J. Lynn, who was in charge of reviewing complaints about abusive priests, tried to save the church from scandal by covering up child sexual abuse.
"You can’t protect the church without keeping the allegations in the dark,’’ said Assistant Dist. Atty. Jacqueline Coelho, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. "He kept the parishioners in the dark and he kept the faithful in the dark.’’
Calling Lynn "the keeper of secrets," Coelho said: "The protection of children is the furthest thing from defendant Lynn’s mind.’’
In a landmark case, Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged with endangering children by protecting abusive priests and covering up the child rape and sexual abuse scandal that rocked the church. Lynn, 61, supervised priest assignments as secretary for clergy at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004.
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-philadelphia-catholic-church-sex-abuse-20120326,0,1979259.story
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The hypocrisy displayed by those in the Catholic Church who were responsible for protecting the pedophile priests from prosecution is beyond comprehension. They've lost all credibility to speak out on any issue of morality. They are deserving of no respect whatsoever. 
These crimes against children are absolutely heinous. I have a friend who suffered a nervous breakdown when he was 17 and was incarcerated in a state mental institution. He was eventually raped by one of the inmates, a physically strong man in his 40s. My friend's life was ruined! 
By the way, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage defend the Catholic Church, despite all that's happened. All they're concerned about is the Catholic Church losing influence. What jerks! 
