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The 23rd Philadelphia County Investigating Grand Jury is often overshadowed by the 2003 preceding investigation of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, yet it is a valuable tool for both law enforcement and researchers. In 2011 Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams took a second look into practices of the Catholic Church, and focused on further lapses and coverup by the archdiocese. The Grand Jury returned criminal charges that are relevant for prosecution of church officers in other locations. This investigation continued the work begun by the 2003 Philladelphia Grand Jury because two courageous survivors, “Billy” and Mark, brought new actionable information to legal authorities. Never underestimate your impact.

This is the beginning of the criminal case against enabler and bystander Msgr. William Lynn.

Report, 2011, pp.1-124. Be prepared to read graphic and horrific material. Several known abuser priests surface again in this report and are linked from this page to material from the 2005 Report.

New revealed abusers follow in bold.

Fr. Charles Engelhardt is alleged to have passed “Billy” to his molester-associates Fr. Edward Avery and Mr. Bernard Shero (p. 2).

Enablers and bystanders made it possible for known abusers to continue to inflict their horrors on children in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Msgr. William Lynn knew about Avery’s abuse of children, and if he had acted on that knowledge Fr. Avery would not have been free to molest Billy. Parishioners concerned about Avery’s behavior were told by Msgr. Lynn that these were just rumors (p. 4).

After ingratiating himself into Mark's family, Fr. James Brennan proceeded to rape him in an apartment he was renting. Lynn ignored rumors about Brennan as well; Mark was able to be serially raped in that apartment because Lynn stood by and did nothing (p.5).

Msgr. William Lynn, as the archbishop’s Secretary for Clergy, was therefore charged with the felony of endangering the welfare of a child (p. 6).

Cardinal Bevilacqua was successfully protected by claims of “dementia and cancer” (p.6). This is #Playbook material, seen repeatedly in Pennsylvania. DA Williams' Report pulls the curtain back a little more, and shows the recent Philadelphia Catholic Cardinals have done little after having six years to get their house in order. This is the Church being a public menace.

In the cases of Billy and Mark, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia assembled private therapeutic records of the victims and gave them to perpetrators in order to calculate statutes of limitations and other information which would call into question their claims. Mark’s records were turned over to Fr. Brennan by diocesan officials (p. 8). An entire section of the Report details shameful and unjust treatment of victims (pp.75-109).

This report claims that 10 alleged abuser priests have been kept in ministry since even before the 2005 Report, and that a further 27 have had allegations against them since and were also kept in ministry (p.9). “These are simply not the actions of an institution that is serious about ending sexual abuse of its children. There is no other conclusion (p.11).”

General recommendations by the 2011 grand jurors include: 1.) Victims should be provided independent non-profit assistance outside diocesan control, 2.) State law should allow a lookback window for victims to investigate and seek financial restoration for past abuse, 3.) The state legislature should consider reducing its funding to schools which do not adequately protect children, and 4.) Victims should be encouraged to reach out to law enforcement with their claims, not to Church authorities (p.11-12). These and several more recommendations are presented (p. 117ff.) in a straightforward manner, with the realization that the 2005 Report had not caused these changes materialize.

After subsequent Pennsylvania statewide investigations one would expect these calls to be urgent. Thousands of Pennsylvanians have been hurt by the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders.

Billy’s claims against his abusers and the archdiocese: pp. 13-30. Avery was a known child abuser who was given access to children at multiple sites, and even allowed to adopt vulnerable children, though his predilections were known by archdiocesan officials at multiple levels.

Mark’s claims against his abusers and the archdiocese: pp. 31-41. Msgr. Lynn turns a blind eye to credible allegations of Fr. Brennan drinking with children and conducting inappropriate relationships, referring to them as rumors (p. 34).

Msgr. Lynn knew about sexual abuse of children by Frs. Avery and Brennan before they raped Billy and Mark. He also knew about similar behaviors from Frs. Stanley Gana, Nicholas V. Cudemo, David C. Sicoli, John P. Connor, and John E. Gillespie, yet still provided them with assignments where they would have easy access to children. Lynn’s case underlines the need to strengthen laws that prosecute enablers of sexual abuse.

A small sampling of cases which the Archdiocese has judged to be unfounded, or in which the archdiocese was lax (pp. 55-73): 

• Joseph J. Gallagher (pp. 57-61). The victim was off by a year in his recollection, so was judged not credible by Review Board, Bishop Timothy Senior, and Bishop Daniel Thomas. Cardinal Rigali “accepted the recommendation”. Bishops in "good standing" today.
• Stephen Perzan (pp. 61-66). In spite of two separate and unrelated complaints, corroborating evidence, and failing a polygraph test the Archdiocesan Review Board judged them not credible. Bishops Senior, Burbidge, and Cistone (d. 2018) all approved of Perzan continuing to have access to children. Bishops in "good standing".
• Joseph DiGregorio (pp. 66-69). Was allowed access to children despite the Review Board initially finding the victim allegation to be credible. In the Pantheon of Church Excuses: members with expert knowledge couldn't make the decisive meeting due to weather.
• William Ayres (pp. 68-69). Despite complaints of wildly inappropriate behavior with children in 2007, the archdiocese did not remove him until a formal complaint was received in 2010. 
• Mr. Bernard Shero (pp. 69-73). This case illustrates the impact of bystanders and enablers of child sexual abuse in Catholic schools. Similar practices will later emerge in the Dioceses of Erie, Pittsburgh, and Greensburg two years later, which still have not been acted upon. 

The 2011 Grand Jury Presentment criminally indicting Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt, Bernard Shero, James Brennan, and William Lynn.

Archdiocese Response: “I also welcome the opportunity for ongoing collaboration with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in the vital work of protecting children,” the Cardinal said (.pdf archive).

As an advisory tale to investigators, and a cautionary tale to managers of clergy personnel:  Msgr. William Lynn was the first clergy personnel manager indicted, convicted, and imprisoned. His case underlines the need to depose diocesan employees if they do not choose to blow the whistle on these near universal mechanisms and practices.

My experience of clergy personnel dynamics led me to testify about multiple Directors of Clergy Personnel before the 40th Pennsylvania Statewide Investigating Grand Jury in 2016. 

Survivors of clergy and institutional sexual abuse should not hesitate to reach out with their experience and history to law enforcement, with an advocate if possible. Persistence is always a necessary virture in these matters, but seemingly small details can unlock possibilities for investigations and even criminal charges for abusers and those who give them cover. Survivors in Philadelphia and beyond owe "Billy" and Mark a debt of gratitude.    

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