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williamlynn

Imprisoned Catholic cleric seeking house arrest

A judge may decide Thursday whether the highest-ranking Catholic church cleric convicted in a child abuse case should be released from detention and placed on house arrest until sentencing.

Monsignor William Lynn was convicted on June 22 of one count of child endangerment.

The landmark trial marked the first time U.S. prosecutors have charged not just the priests who allegedly committed abuses but also church leaders for failing to stop them. Lynn is the highest-ranking cleric accused of imperiling children by helping cover up sexual abuse.

Lynn's defense team argued during the trial that their client repeatedly told higher-ups about the alleged abuse and, under strict orders from the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, had no authority to remove priests from the ministry.

After the verdict, his attorneys filed a motion requesting that their client be released on house arrest pending his scheduled August 13 sentencing. He could face three-and-a-half to seven years in prison for his conviction on the third-degree felony.

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  • Evermyrtle

    If he molested my child I would like for him to have house arrest, in jail he is safe for parental punishment.

  • http://www.divinenewsnetwork.com Min. Thomas Allen

    Mark 9:42, "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." (KJV)

  • Luong

    Another dirty catholic scum…

    • myth buster

      How do you know he did not learn about these things by hearing confessions? The seal of confession cannot be broken for any reason, not even to save a life. He would be instantly excommunicated if he betrayed his penitents by publicly revealing information he learned in the confessional, even in an anonymous tip. It is better to die obeying God than to betray God to obey men. God knows whether this man is a partner to the crime or a confessor of the faith being unjustly persecuted. You, however, do not. Therefore be silent, and let God judge him according to the secrets in his heart.

      • http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon

        It is exactly this type of attitude that allows these monsters to continue molesting children. You should be put in jail with them.

      • bighoss

        I do not believe that he used the confessional dodge as a basis for failing to report the scurrilous and scummy actions of the depraved priest he protected. Too bad Cardinal Bevilacqua is not still drawing breath. He should have done time for his failed leadership in the corrupt diocese he presided over.

        God is this varmint's ultimate judge, but he had to stand trial before the courts of this land for good reason and he was found guilty for good reason. I suspect that he will not get the kid gloves treatment that he is attempting to get, but will do some time at the "graystone hotel."

  • Dorothy Davidson

    Okay numb nuts, the priest didn't do anything with any child. He reported to those over him. They did nothing. He had no authority to do anything except maybe hold a protest rally, carry a sign, yell his lungs out but THAT was NOT his options. You obey the rules of your organization whether Catholic or Constitution. How many of you loud mouths enjoy the jerk in the White House breaking the Constitution right and left yet this priest did nothing but follow the rules.

    • bighoss

      If someone in an organization of which I am a member is breaking the law by by molesting juveniles, and if I know about that ,and if under the law it is my duty to report it, then I am guilty for not having done so, irrespective of whether some "Cardinal" or other overlord of ecclesiastical pedophilic issues tells me not to. End of story, and likely the start of JAIL for Lynn!

      • Just Observing

        And do we put a policeman who reports a crime to his superiors in jail, if his superiors do nothing about it?

  • msjallen

    People who molest children as well as men who rape women should get the death penalty.