Philadelphia Grand Jury Final Presentment

The evidence before the Grand Jury suggests that the Secretary for Clergy was
acutely interested in shielding abusive clergy from criminal detection, the Cardinal from
scandal, and the church from financial liability. It shows no interest on Msgr. Lynn’s part
in defending children entrusted by their parents to Archdiocese schools and churches.
Instead of protecting the children, Msgr. Lynn endangered them.
Msgr. Lynn has a long history of transferring abusive priests to unsuspecting
parishes.
In the case of Father Avery, Archdiocese documents show that Msgr. Lynn
received reliable reports warning that the priest had sexually abused a boy and should not
be permitted to engage in any ministry that involved working with adolescents.
Nevertheless, Msgr. Lynn recommended the priest for assignment to a parish with an
elementary school. Testimony and the Secretary for Clergy’s own notes reveal that Msgr.
Lynn then ignored repeated warnings that Father Avery was engaging in unsupervised
activities in which he could victimize more children.
In the case of Father Brennan, Msgr. Lynn received multiple formal complaints.
These indicated that he was suspected of hosting parties where he allowed students to
drink, and was even living with one of those students, whom he claimed was a nephew.
Nevertheless, the record shows that Msgr. Lynn conducted no investigation. (Such an
investigation would have revealed the private “wrestling” sessions with minors.) He did
not call law enforcement. He did not take action to keep Father Brennan away from
adolescents. Instead, he recommended the priest for transfer to a new parish where he
would be able to have unsupervised contact with children and teenage minors.
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