April 22, 2012
When Monsignor William Lynn decided to plead not guilty and go to trial on charges that he assisted the church in covering up sexual abuse cases, he opened the floodgates to the public revelation of large amounts of painful and emotional evidence.
We were stunned when we first heard the evidence about adults sexually abused and groped as children in churches by the church leaders we trusted. Now, while most of us have accepted that these horrific acts occurred under the cloak of moral righteousness, that numerous parents wrongly mistrusted authority, and that coverups were occurring, we can’t help but be shocked when we hear direct testimony about the hypocrisy of those who took advantage of their positions of power to misuse and harm innocent children.
In the landmark Lynn trial in Philadelphia, the court has allowed testimony concerning 20 other priests who have not been formally charged. So far, ten alleged victims have testified with more to come, and internal church memos have been read aloud.
In one poignant instance, a 48-year-old man testified that he had been in love with his parish priest during a five-year sexual relationship that began in ninth grade and jealous when the priest had sexual relationships with other teens. Girls were fondled, boys were raped, and parents continued to send their children to the priests despite signs and even direct disclosures from the children themselves.
In my opinion, this trial and resulting publicity is important to social progress. When we as a society recognize that there are those in power use who their authority to harm the innocent, we move a step closer to ending cycles of abuse, violence, cruelty, and pain.