Msgr. William Lynn -- the first Roman Catholic Church official in the United States to be convicted of covering up sexual abuses by priests under his supervision -- was sentenced today (July 24, 2012) to three to six years in prison, the New York Times website reports.
"You knew full well what was right, Monsignor Lynn, but you chose wrong," Judge Teresa Sarmina of Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia said as she imposed the sentence, which was just less than the maximum of three and a half to seven years.
Monsignor Lynn, 61, was found guilty on June 22 of child endangerment after a three-month trial that revealed efforts over decades by the Philadelphia archdiocese to play down accusations of child sexual abuse and avoid scandal.
At that time, prosecutors presented evidence that he had shielded predatory priests -- sometimes transferring them to unaware parishes -- and lied to the public to avoid bad publicity and lawsuits.
This case is extremely significant -- indeed it sets a precedent in American jurisprudence -- because it sends a strong no-holds-barred message to bishops and other Roman Catholic Church leaders in the United States that if they cover up a priest's sexual child abuse, they will be sent to jail themselves.
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