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Philadelphia, Pa., Jul 28, 2016 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court let stand July 26 a ruling that prosecutors in a Philadelphia priest’s trial used prejudicial evidence related to clergy sex abuse.Philadelphia’s district attorney must now decide whether to re-try Monsignor William J. Lynn.The priest was not accused of sexually abusing children. However, he was convicted on one felony count of child endangerment for failing to protect children from an abusive priest, and was sentenced to three to six years in prison.Msgr. Lynn, now 65 years old, had served as the Philadelphia archdiocese’s Secretary for Clergy from 1992 to 2004. As such, he was responsible for investigating priests accused of abuse.He was the first Catholic official convicted for a supervisory role over priests accused of abusing children.That trial could be revisited, or the priest could be released for good.In December 2015 the Superior Court had ordered a new trial for M...
Philadelphia, Pa., Jul 28, 2016 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court let stand July 26 a ruling that prosecutors in a Philadelphia priest’s trial used prejudicial evidence related to clergy sex abuse.
Philadelphia’s district attorney must now decide whether to re-try Monsignor William J. Lynn.
The priest was not accused of sexually abusing children. However, he was convicted on one felony count of child endangerment for failing to protect children from an abusive priest, and was sentenced to three to six years in prison.
Msgr. Lynn, now 65 years old, had served as the Philadelphia archdiocese’s Secretary for Clergy from 1992 to 2004. As such, he was responsible for investigating priests accused of abuse.
He was the first Catholic official convicted for a supervisory role over priests accused of abusing children.
That trial could be revisited, or the priest could be released for good.
In December 2015 the Superior Court had ordered a new trial for Msgr. Lynn. It agreed with his lawyers that the prosecutors had wrongly tainted the judgement of the jury by using historical evidence of the Church’s handling of sex abuse, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Some of the two dozen case histories dated to the 1940s.
In the priest’s 2012 trial, prosecutors used the history in an effort to show the priest was part of a dominant culture in the archdiocese. The judge at the trial allowed it as background on the grounds that jurors could understand the context and the culture in which Msgr. Lynn was operating.
The priest’s lawyers said the evidence was prejudicial and inflammatory and drove the jury toward a guilty verdict.
The charge against Msgr. Lynn stemmed from his response to the case of Edward Avery, a now-laicized priest serving a jail sentence for abusing an altar boy during the 1990s. Prosecutors said Msgr. Lynn had reassigned Avery to live near a church school, despite having substantiated a claim of abuse against the priest. After reassignment, Avery sexually assaulted a 10-year-old boy in 1999.
Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams had appealed the December 2015 decision that ordered a new trial for Msgr. Lynn.
The district attorney must decide whether to hold another trial for the priest, who has served half his sentence.
He will be paroled Oct. 16. Pennsylvania inmates are typically eligible for parole after they serve their minimum sentence. His attorney has sought bail of $250,000.
Krakow, Poland, Jul 28, 2016 / 02:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Married couples were the focus of Pope Francis’ second “balcony talk” in Poland on Thursday, receiving from him three words he has often said are key to a successful marriage.“Sometimes they ask me how to make it so that the family always goes forward and overcomes difficulties,” the Pope said July 28, adding that when this happens, “I suggest to them to practice three words.”Speaking in his native Spanish, he said these words “can help to live married life because in married life there are difficulties,” adding that marriage is something we have to take care of, “because it’s forever.”The three words are “permission, thanks, and forgiveness.”Pope Francis was speaking at the end of his first full day in Poland, where he is spending July 27-31 for World Youth Day. Each night when he comes back to Krakow after the day’s activities, Francis...
Krakow, Poland, Jul 28, 2016 / 02:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Married couples were the focus of Pope Francis’ second “balcony talk” in Poland on Thursday, receiving from him three words he has often said are key to a successful marriage.
“Sometimes they ask me how to make it so that the family always goes forward and overcomes difficulties,” the Pope said July 28, adding that when this happens, “I suggest to them to practice three words.”
Speaking in his native Spanish, he said these words “can help to live married life because in married life there are difficulties,” adding that marriage is something we have to take care of, “because it’s forever.”
The three words are “permission, thanks, and forgiveness.”
Pope Francis was speaking at the end of his first full day in Poland, where he is spending July 27-31 for World Youth Day. Each night when he comes back to Krakow after the day’s activities, Francis is set to appear on the balcony of the local archbishop’s palace to address youth gathered below.
The tradition was begun by St. John Paul II, who spoke to youth from the balcony every time he visited his homeland as Pope – had been Krakow's archbishop from 1964 until his 1978 election as Bishop of Rome. It was continued by Benedict XVI when he visited Poland in 2006, and is now being carried on by Francis.
In yesterday’s encounter Francis recounted the moving story of a young student who rediscovered his faith after leaving school to volunteer for WYD in designing the banners that currently line Krakow’s streets, but passed away from cancer before the event arrived. He praised the young man’s faith, and encouraged the youth gathered to spread the joy of their faith in Christ throughout the city.
In his speech from the balcony Thursday, he focused on married couples, explaining that whenever he sees a young couple is getting married or has just done so, “I tell them they are the ones who have courage, because it’s not easy to form a family.”
“It’s not easy to make a life commitment, it takes courage, and I congratulate them because they have courage,” he said, noting that the three words “permission, thanks, and forgiveness” come in handy every day of married life.
These newly married listened to the Pope's advice for couples: https://t.co/qYPfKuvr3y Pics: @kateveik #Krakow2016 pic.twitter.com/Hxra8Lmr7R
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) July 28, 2016
On the topic of permission, the Pope said to “always ask your spouse, the wife to the husband and the husband to the wife, ‘what do you think, what do you think if we do this?’” rather than just “running over” the other without getting their opinion.
He also stressed the need to be grateful, “because it’s the spouses who confer the sacrament of marriage, one to the other. And this sacramental relationship is maintained with this sentiment of gratitude, of thanks.”
The third word, he noted, is forgiveness, which is “a very hard word to say.” In marriage, mistakes are always made, he said, noting that the important thing is to know how recognize one’s mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
This “does a lot of good,” Francis continued, urging families and engaged couples to “remember these three words, which will help you to a lot in married life: permission, thank you, and forgiveness.”
In marriage “there are always problems or discussions. It’s habitual and it happens that the husband and wife argue, raise their voice, fight,” he said, noting that “somethings the plates fly.”
“But don’t panic when this happens,” he said, and advised couples to never finish a day without making peace, “because the cold war the day after is very dangerous.”
A simple gesture is enough to make this peace, he said, tapping his face twice, adding that “when there is love, a gesture fixes everything.”
Pope Francis then invited the youth to pray for all the families who were present, for those who are married and those who are engaged, and led the crowd in praying a Hail Mary, each country in their own language.
Lafayette, La., Jul 28, 2016 / 03:44 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Father Felix David Broussard, a priest of the Diocese of Lafayette, La., was arrested yesterday for allegedly possessing more than 500 images of child pornography, according to local police.In a statement, the Diocese reported that Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel and diocesan staff were “saddened” to learn of the arrest of the priest, who was immediately placed on administrative leave from active priestly ministry.“The Diocese takes these allegations very seriously and is cooperating fully in every way possible with the investigation,” the statement read.The arrest followed a complaint filed with the Louisiana State Police Special Victims unit, alleging that a computer that the priest had primary access to contained images of child pornography.The unit’s investigation reportedly uncovered over 500 images of pornography involving juveniles, and Fr. Broussard was placed under arrest and booked at the St...
Lafayette, La., Jul 28, 2016 / 03:44 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Father Felix David Broussard, a priest of the Diocese of Lafayette, La., was arrested yesterday for allegedly possessing more than 500 images of child pornography, according to local police.
In a statement, the Diocese reported that Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel and diocesan staff were “saddened” to learn of the arrest of the priest, who was immediately placed on administrative leave from active priestly ministry.
“The Diocese takes these allegations very seriously and is cooperating fully in every way possible with the investigation,” the statement read.
The arrest followed a complaint filed with the Louisiana State Police Special Victims unit, alleging that a computer that the priest had primary access to contained images of child pornography.
The unit’s investigation reportedly uncovered over 500 images of pornography involving juveniles, and Fr. Broussard was placed under arrest and booked at the St. Martin Parish jail.
In a news release, state police said they “worked closely with the Diocese of Lafayette during the course of this investigation.”
“Louisiana State Police will continue to maintain working relationships with partner law enforcement agencies, individuals, and private entities statewide in an attempt to locate and arrest those individuals who commit crimes against children.”
Bishop Deshotel called a press conference soon after the arrest, saying he wanted to “get the word out as soon as possible.”
The bishop said that while Fr. Broussard is innocent until proven guilty, the diocese immediately and temporarily relieved the priest of his duties pending the outcome of the investigation, in compliance with their Safe Environment policies and the U.S. Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Youth.
A different priest will be temporarily placed at the parish to continue serving the needs of the faithful.
In an interview with local news station KLFY, Bishop Deshotel said that the diocese had never heard a complaint against Father Broussard, who was ordained for the diocese in 1993.
“Only good letters from people who loved him in the parish. But you know this kind of illness hides itself in a person. We don’t know,” he told KLFY.
Possession of child pornography is not only a state crime, but it is “a crime in church law also. It preys on the most vulnerable in our community and must be vigorously confronted,” the bishop noted in his press conference.
“I want to also add my sincere thanks to the officers of the Louisiana State Police for their professionalism and courtesy, as well as their commitment also to protecting the young and the innocent. It was an honor for me to work with them in the common goal that we share - protecting the innocent.”
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