<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="center"><div style class="cpf-deletable cpf-printOut-header-title"><font size="6"><b>Philadelphia priest: Not archdiocese's policy to tell police about abuse reports</b></font><br>
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<div style class="cpf-deletable cpf-printOut-header-byline">By Sarah Hoye, CNN</div>
<div style class="cpf-deletable cpf-printOut-header-dateline">updated 8:11 PM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012</div>
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<div class="cpf-deletable cpf-printOut-header-domain">CNN.com</div>
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<img style="" alt="Catholic Monsignor William Lynn is accused of covering up sexual abuse of children by priests." class="cpf-printOut-body-content-img" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120522110905-monsignor-william-lynn-story-top.jpg"></div>
<div style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Catholic Monsignor William Lynn is accused of covering up sexual abuse of children by priests.</div>
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<span>Philadelphia (CNN)</span> -- A priest who assisted Monsignor
William Lynn investigate clergy sex abuse claims testified Tuesday that
it was not the archdiocese's policy to contact law enforcement or other
victims of abuse.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">"Our legal counsel said there was not a requirement to report," Monsignor Michael McCulken told jurors.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">The defense called its
first three witnesses Tuesday in the child sexual abuse and conspiracy
trial of two Philadelphia priests, after the prosecution rested last
week.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">On trial are the Rev.
James Brennan, who is accused of the attempted rape of a 14-year-old,
and Monsignor William Lynn, who is accused of knowingly allowing
dangerous priests to continue in the ministry in roles in which they had
access to children.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Lynn is the first
high-ranking church figure charged with child endangerment for allegedly
shuffling predator priests from parish to parish.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Defrocked priest Edward
Avery was due to also go on trial with Brennan and Lynn, but pleaded
guilty in March to involuntary sexual deviate sexual intercourse after
admitting to sexually assaulting a 10-year-old altar boy during the
1998-1999 school year at St. Jerome Parish.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Lynn, who was the
secretary for clergy under former Philadelphia Archbishop Cardinal
Anthony Bevilacqua, is accused of knowingly allowing Avery and Brennan
access to children despite allegations of sexual abuse of minors. From
1992 until 2004, Lynn was responsible for investigating reports that
priests had sexually abused children.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Both Brennan and Lynn have pleaded not guilty.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Also taking the witness
stand was Monsignor William Beisel, who was Lynn's assistant from
1993-1994. Beisel and Lynn drafted an infamous list of 35 priests
suspected of sexually abusing children</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Beisel told jurors that he and Lynn reviewed the files of priests accused of sexual misconduct to draft the list.</p>
<p style class="cpf-printOut-body-content">"We did this after 5 o'clock. It seemed like forever, but took about two weeks," he said. "I was happy the project was over."</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">The list was later found inside a
locked safe that was drilled open in 2006. Still, the list of 35
Catholic priests accused or found guilty of sexual misconduct, plus a
memo ordering the shredding of the list of priests plus other personnel
documents, did not come to light until February.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Although Beisel remembered penning
the list, he confirmed for jurors that he told the grand jury in 2004,
"I don't recall seeing a priest that was guilty of sexual misconduct."</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Included on the list was defrocked priest Avery, categorized as "guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor."</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Avery, 69, was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in prison after his guilty plea.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">"Are you trying to help your friend?" Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington asked Beisel.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">"Am I trying to help my friend? No.
I'm trying to help get to the truth," Beisel said, adding that he left
his position as Lynn's assistant because he "did not like the job."</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Two separate grand jury reports accused the archdiocese of failing to investigate claims of sexual abuse of children by priests.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">A 2011 report led the Philadelphia
district attorney's office to criminally charge four Philadelphia
priests and a parochial school teacher with raping and assaulting boys
in their care, while Lynn was accused of allowing the abusive priests to
have access to children.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">On May 4, Archbishop Charles J.
Chaput announced resolutions to eight of the 26 cases of priests on
administrative leave as a result of the February 2011 grand jury report.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">Yet, the archdiocese announced
Sunday it ousted two priests -- not connected to those cases -- due to
allegations of sexual abuse of minors.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">The trial represents the first time
that U.S. prosecutors have charged not just the priests who allegedly
committed the abuses, but an official who stands accused of failing to
stop the assaults. Lynn had been responsible from 1992 until 2004 for
investigating reports that priests had sexually abused children.</p>
<p class="cpf-printOut-body-content">A gag order barring all parties
involved in the criminal case from talking to the media imposed by a
Philadelphia judge remains in effect.</p>
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<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<br><a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" target="_blank">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a><br>