Hearing set in Philadelphia priest abuse scandal

A former high-ranking official in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and two priests are among five men scheduled to appear before a judge on charges stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of children.

Priests Charles Engelhardt and James Brennan and Monsignor William Lynn, the archdiocese’s former secretary of clergy, are due before a Philadelphia judge on Monday. A former priest and a Catholic school teacher are also set to appear.

 

Prosecutors say Lynn endangered the welfare of children by transferring abusive priests to new parishes with schools and youth groups without warning local officials. The two priests are charged with rape and related crimes along with former priest Edward Avery and teacher Bernard Shero.

The charges came last month following a grand jury investigation.