US church official guilty

A Philadelphia monsignor tasked with investigating abuse claims became the highest-ranking US church official to be convicted of covering up child abuse allegations. William Lynn, who was secretary of the archdiocese from 1994 to 2001, was found guilty of one count of child endangerment and acquitted of two other counts - one of conspiracy and a second charge of child endangerment. “This monumental case, in many ways, will change the way business is done,” Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams said, after the jury returned its verdicts following 13 days of deliberations. Lynn, 61, who took the witness stand for three days during his 10-week trial, was not charged with molesting children, but rather with covering up the crimes of priests who did. He faces three and a half to seven years in prison, according to prosecutors. In a move blasted by defense attorneys, Judge Teresa Sarmina ordered Lynn to be taken into custody immediately. His sentence is due to be announced on August 13. The trial, the first in the United States involving a senior official in the Catholic Church, also centered on two other Philadelphia priests. Asked if Lynn was being punished for the sins of the Church, his lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, replied with one word: “Yes. His immediate reaction was one of disappointment but understanding,” Bergstrom said. “Because he recognizes this young man got abused.”