Defense attorneys: Williams’ comment on priest charges violates gag order
The hearing this morning for the Philadelphia teacher, monsignor and three priests charged with sexual abuse and cover-up was only a status hearing, reporter Tom MacDonald tells us, but defense attorneys had plenty to say.
Lawyers for Bernard Shero, Msgr. William Lynn and Frs. James Brennan, Edward Avery and Charles Engelhardt say District Attorney Seth Williams has violated the gag order that surrounds the case.
“We saw the same problem with the clergy sex-abuse scandal in Philadelphia. People reported to the church, but the church might do something, or not,” Williams told the Inquirer when asked about the ongoing sexual abuse investigation at Penn State University. The Inky sought comment from Williams, a PSU graduate, about the firing of football coach Joe Paterno and President Graham Spanier for their failure to report to police the sexual abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes issued a gag order on the archdiocese abuse case in March.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.