PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Attorneys for a Roman Catholic church official convicted of child endangerment are asking a judge to release him on house arrest.
Monsignor William Lynn was found guilty of child endangerment Friday, making him the first U.S. church official branded a felon for covering up abuse claims.
His lawyers filed a motion Monday asking to have him released from prison pending his sentencing Aug. 13.
Prosecutors say Lynn helped the Archdiocese of Philadelphia keep predators in ministry, and the public in the dark, by telling parishes their priests were being removed for health reasons and then sending the men to unsuspecting churches.
Lynn was the archdiocese's secretary of the clergy from 1992 to 2004.
He was convicted of endangering a boy who was sexually assaulted by a priest in 1999.
