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Saturday, February 19th, 2011

Philadelphia Grand Jury Recommends Criminal Charges Which Include Archdiocesan Official

Author:     RANDY SLY
Source:     Catholic Online
Publication Date:     2/18/2011
 Link: Philadelphia Grand Jury Recommends Criminal Charges Which Include Archdiocesan Official
Stephan:   This awful story just will not stop. Three different reports in three different dioceses were filed today; I chose this one. I think it is notable that the Catholic laity has not organized itself to demand that the clergy be rededicated and cleansed, and structural changes made. Two billion dollars of believers' money has been spent so far to compensate for the systemic flaws of this system. Yet it takes place below most of the media's sight line. Business as usual. Even if you are not a Catholic this story should be seen as important. The Roman Catholic Church is the oldest virtual state woven deeply into the fabric of almost every Western nation, all of Africa, and parts of Asia. Catholics are the largest denominational community in the U.S. This slow motion implosion will affect billions of people. Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

WASHINGTON, DC — On February 10, 2011 a Philadelphia Grand Jury landed a serious blow to the Philadelphia Archdiocese with regard to child abuse charges against three priests and a lay teacher. In addition to recommending criminal charges in all three cases, the Grand Jury also recommended criminal charges against the Secretary for Clergy for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia under Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.

The recommended charges against the three priests, Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt, and James Brennan and the teacher, Bernard Shero include rape and indecent sexual assault. In addition, they are recommending charges against Monsignor William J. Lynn, the Secretary for Clergy, which includes two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The report and presentment of the Grand Jury is the second of a one-two punch for the Archdiocese. The first came six years ago where a Grand Jury issued a 127 page report that began, ‘This report contains the findings of the Grand Jury: how dozens of priests sexually abused hundreds of children; how Philadelphia Archdiocese officials – including Cardinal Bevilacqua and Cardinal Krol – excused and enabled the abuse; and how the law must be changed so that it doesn’t happen again. Some may be tempted to […]

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