On Tuesday, a Philadelphia court convicted and Msgr. William J. Lynn for covering up a number child-sex abuses committed by priests under his supervision for 12 years. Msgr. Lynn was sentenced to three to six years in prison becoming the first Roman Catholic official in the country to be charged and convicted.
At the sentencing Tuesday, Judge M. Teresa Sarmina, said "You knew full well what was right, Monsignor Lynn, but you chose wrong," she continued saying that he conveniently neglected the cries of the boys from "every monstrous clerical garb" according to Philly.com
His lawyers Thomas Berstorm and Jeffery Lindy urged the judge that the 61-year-old "never harbored any intent to harm a child," according to the New York Times.
On June 22, Msgr. Lynn was convicted on one count of child endangerment. He was found guilty of covering-up child molestations and abuse by priests at the Philadelphia archdiocese, where Msgr. Lynn served as Secretary for clergy to Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua,
Although, Judge Semina did not impose the maximum sentence of seven years as prosecutors from the District Attorney desired, the three month trial was certainly landmark in being the first conviction to a member of the Roman Catholic Church in the nation's history, giving teeth to the recent crackdown on the church with regards to child sex-abuse.
Msgr. Lynn served at the Philadelphia Archdiocese for 12 years, after which he became pastor at the St. Joseph Church in Downingtown, he was suspended after his arrest and has been in jail since June 22 when he was convicted of the crimes.
