Philly prosecutors rest in rare clergy-abuse trial

After eight weeks, Philadelphia prosecutors have rested in the trial of a Roman Catholic church official charged with child endangerment for his handling of clergy sex-abuse complaints.

Monsignor William Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged for his administrative role. Prosecutors say he helped keep abuse complaints buried in secret church files.
Defense lawyers say the former secretary for clergy tried to address the problem, but took orders from the Philadelphia cardinal.

Jurors have heard painful testimony from more than a dozen people who say they were abused by priests as children.

And the jury has viewed about 2,000 documents, most unearthed from the secret archives.

The defense begins their case Tuesday. It’s not yet clear if the 61-year-old Lynn will testify.