After 13 days of deliberation, the jury in the landmark Philadelphia abuse trial has found Msgr. William J. Lynn guilty on one charge of child endangerment, acquitting him on a second endangerment charge and on one count of conspiracy.

The jury declared itself hung on both charges against Fr. James J. Brennan, who had been accused of attempted sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy in 1996. Prosecutors could choose to retry their case against him.

Lynn faced charges of child endangerment and conspiracy for his role in an alleged cover-up of priest sex abuse during his tenure as secretary of clergy for the Philadelphia archdiocese from 1992 to 2004.
Earlier in the week, the jury informed Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina that it had reached a unanimous decision on only one count, and was hung jury on the remaining four against Lynn and Brennan.
Reports from inside the courtroom said that Sarmina urged the jury – through what’s known as a “Spencer charge” – to continue deliberating, offering to allow them to rehear testimony if necessary.

After an off-day Thursday for a juror to attend to a family matter, the jury reconvened this morning, informing Sarmina they had reached a verdict in the early afternoon.

Barbara Dorris, victims outreach director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called the day’s decision “long overdue.”

“This day—and the relief, vindication and healing it gives clergy sex abuse victims—is long overdue. The guilty verdict sends a strong and clear message that shielding and enabling predator priests is a heinous crime that threatens families, communities and children, and must be punished as such,” she said in a statement released minutes after the verdict was announced.

“It is also the criminal justice system's "shot across the bow," sending a clear signal to all institutions: “Protect kids, oust predators or go to jail,” Dorris said.

A New Day of Reckoning: Jury Finds Msgr. Lynn Guilty of Child Endangerment

 Jeff Anderson

A Philadelphia jury made history today when it found Msgr. William Lynn guilty of endangering the welfare of a child. The jury’s decision is historic and unprecedented. Until now no top Catholic official has been criminally convicted for child endangerment. The result of this difficult and arduous trial presents the first true day of reckoning in the criminal justice system against any top official in the Catholic church hierarchy.

For decades the top officials of the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and elsewhere, have operated above the law and with impunity, believing that they could not and would never be held accountable. Now, finally, because of courageous survivors, as well as prosecutors and law enforcement that were willing to take a stand, justice is served. With this justice comes great hope and promise to all those who have fought for so long.

We applaud the prosecutors, the survivors, and all those who contributed to the exposure of the truth. We are deeply grateful for the many survivors with whom we work. And we continue to be inspired by those who chose to break the silence and make their painful histories known in order to protect other kids.  A new and better day is upon us and we’re proud to stand on the shoulders of the courageous survivors whom we work with every day.

 In addition to the guilty finding, the jury acquitted Lynn on one charge of conspiracy and another charge of child endangerment. The jury was hung as to two charges involving James Brennan including attempted rape and endangering the welfare of a child.