It’s crunch time for the sex abuse scandal involving the archdiocese of Philadelphia.
In a Center City courtroom yesterday, prosecutors dropped this little bombshell. They accused the archdiocese of being an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the sex abuse case involving priests and children.
And prosecutors also laid out more details of the crux of what they believe was going on, that the archdiocese was involved in a cover-up and simply moved problem priests from one parish to another without warning parishioners.
In effect, they allege that the archdiocese’s tactics supplied a steady supply of children to predator priests.
Yes, it is that ugly. And it no doubt will get uglier.
All of this comes as several priests and Monsignor William Lynn prepare to go on trial. Lynn is the highest-ranking church official in the nation to be criminally charged in connection with the abuse of children by priests.
Lynn is not charged with abuse, but instead of putting children at risk through his work as the secretary for the clergy for then Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua.
Lynn has declared his innocence. His lawyers maintain he was merely following the policy created by Cardinal Bevilacqua. Specifically, yesterday they objected that much of what was being described by prosecutors occurred either before or after Lynn’s tenure.
How ugly is this going to get? One defense attorney, in referring to nuns who had complained about some priests to the archdiocese, ripped them as “rats and wimps.” He said the priest was merely disturbing their peace.
The hearing will continue today. Don’t look for it to get any easier to stomach.
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