Jury to get Catholic child abuse case

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PHILADELPHIA, June 1 (UPI) -- Closing arguments were completed in the Philadelphia trial of Monsignor William Lynn, charged with child endangerment in a priest abuse case.

The jury was expected to receive the case Friday, CNN reported.

Lynn, on trial with another Catholic priest, is accused of knowingly allowing dangerous priests to remain in situations in which they have access to children.

The other defendant, the Rev. James Brennan, is accused of the attempted rape of a 14-year-old.

Both pleaded not guilty. All sides rested Tuesday and closing arguments ended Thursday.

Lynn's lawyers argued their client repeatedly followed the chain of command when notifying others about child sex abuse allegations.

"The allegation is that he did nothing, but he didn't do nothing," Thomas Bergstrom, Lynn's defense attorney, told jurors. "They want you to convict him for their sins. He held more than a candle to their shame, he put a spotlight on their shame."

A prosecutor countered that Lynn's actions were less honorable, The Philadelphia Inquirer said.

"He and everyone else who protected pedophile priests were murdering the souls of children," Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington said.

The summations capped an 11-week child endangerment and abuse trial that included more than 60 witnesses, including Lynn and nearly two dozen alleged abuse victims, and the introduction of thousands of documents.