Jury selection nears in Philly church-abuse case

PHILADELPHIA - February 15, 2012 (WPVI) -- A Roman Catholic church official is set for a final pretrial hearing Wednesday before jury selection starts in his landmark priest-abuse case.

Monsignor William Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged with child endangerment and conspiracy for allegedly transferring problem priests to unsuspecting parishes.

Lynn served as secretary for clergy in Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004.

He will be tried along with Fr. James Brennand and ex-priest Edward Avery, both charged with rape.

All three have pleaded not guilty.

Defense lawyers say Lynn took orders from Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. The 88-year-old cardinal died two weeks ago, one day after a judge found him competent to testify.

Jury selection could take weeks, and the trial several months.

Another priest and a former Catholic school teacher will be tried separately.

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philadelphia, child luring, child sex assault, crime

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