There was bad news, worse news, and even a silver lining in yesterday's announcement by Philadelphia D.A. Seth Williams that a former archdiocese priest was being charged with the rape of an altar boy.
The Rev. Robert Brennan was picked up in Perryville, Md., where he had been living since being banished from the priesthood after his name was littered through the historic 2005 grand jury report in priest child sex abuse in the archdiocese.
Brennan, now 75, who served several parishes in Delaware County, is believed to have abused as many as 20 boys over a span of 15 years. Most of those offenses came to light too late for Brennan to be charged. But when a new victim came forward, Brennan once again found himself in the crosshairs.
What could possibly be construed as good news in this sordid affair?
In making the announcement, Williams lauded the archdiocese for they way they handled this new complaint, immediately notifying authorities.
Unfortunately, Williams also pointed out that this was even further indictment of past practices in the archdiocese, the kind of behavior that sent Monsignor William Lynn to jail, the first high-ranking church official ever convicted of endangering the welfare of a child.
Williams made it clear that, if he could, he would have charged Lynn with endangerment in this case as well, laying out a timeline showing that the archdiocese was well aware of problems with Brennan's behavior, yet continuing to move him from one parish to another.
He wound up at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia. That's where it is now alleged Brennan abused an altar boy for years, from the time the boy was 11 to 14.
Lynn's defense lawyers angrily denounced Williams' proclamations. The monsignor is seeking a new trial. This likely won't help his case.
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