PA high court upholds reversal of Philadelphia monsignor’s conviction

July 27, 2016

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s reversal of the 2012 conviction of Msgr. William Lynn, a former Philadelphia archdiocesan chancery official.

The 2012 conviction was a landmark case. He was the highest-ranking cleric to be sentenced to prison-- not for abuse that he committed, but for negligence in responding to abuse by others under his supervision.

In December 2015, a lower court ordered a new trial for Msgr. Lynn after finding that the 2012 decision was tainted by the introduction of evidence from other sexual abuse cases dating back to the 1940s.

“Currently, he is an unconvicted and unsentenced individual, and he should be released on bail pending a new trial, a fair trial this time,” said Msgr. Lynn’s attorney. Philadelphia prosecutors have fought to keep him in jail despite court rulings against them.

 

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Further information:

• Pa. Supreme Court rejects Philly D.A.'s appeal in church sex-abuse case (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Pa. justices won't reinstate Catholic Church monsignor's conviction (AP)
• Landmark conviction of Philadelphia monsignor reversed for 2nd time (CWN, 12/22/15)