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Whistle-blower priests say policy
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"Whistle-blower" priests say policy thwarts them
B Jerem Roebuck
Inquirer Staff Writer
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/22/11 "Whistle-blower" priests say policy thwarts them
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to bring them in to talk to the D.A. They are going to provide
compelling testimony."
As evidence of the church's willingnes s to be transparent, he
pointed to the hiring of several former prosecutors to
run internal investigations into the sex-abuse s candal. Most
prominent among them is Gina Maisto-Smith, who is
reviewing allegations against 27 priests s uspended this
year.
"At this point, the archdiocese has become an alumni ass
ociation for former assis tant district attorneys," he said.
But Welsh's representation of at least four employees whose
testimony could hurt the church and its leaders
poses a clear conflict of interest, as the archdiocese is paying
his legal bills , Blessington maintained.
Whatever Sarmina decides, it could s ignificantly affect the
ongoing prosecution of two current priests, a defrocked
priest, and a former schoolteacher on charges that they sexually
abused young boys in the 1990s.
A fifth defendant, Msgr. William J. Lynn, is accused of child
endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly placing two
of the priests in pos itions where they could abuse children
despite previous accusations of inappropriate behavior.
As secretary for clergy until 2004, Lynn was tasked with
investigating sex-abuse allegations against priests and
recommending treatment or new assignments for them.
The archdiocese is paying Lynn's legal bills and s tands to gain
if he is acquitted, Bless ington noted.
Wednesday's hearing came a day after Common Pleas Court Judge
Lillian Harris Ransom ruled that Bernard
Shero, the former schoolteacher charged in the case, could be
tried separately from the other four defendants.
Shero is accused of sexually assaulting the same Northeast
Philadelphia altar boy that two other defendants, the
Rev. Charles Engelhardt and Edward Avery, allegedly abused in
the late 1990s .
His attorney argued, though, that the former teacher deserved a
separate trial because he is not charged with
participating in a broader conspiracy to cover up abuse.
Shero's trial is now set to begin after the prosecution of the
four others. Their trial is scheduled for February.
Contact staff riter Jerem Roebuck at 267-564-5218,
[email protected], or @inqmontco on Titter.
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