Judge denies convicted monsignor's bid for house arrest

John P. Martin
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Friday, July 6, 2012

Northeast PHILADELPHIA — Monsignor William J. Lynn lost a bid Thursday to get out of jail before being sentenced for child endangerment but persuaded a judge to move his sentencing hearing up by three weeks.


After barely 10 minutes of discussion, Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina sided with Philadelphia prosecutors who said Lynn, the first Catholic Church supervisor convicted for enabling clergy sex abuse, should stay in prison because he is a flight risk.


The former secretary for clergy for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia faces up to seven years in prison. Sarmina moved up his sentencing to July 24, from Aug. 13.


Lynn’s relatives and supporters packed the courtroom for the bail hearing, the second since Lynn was convicted and jailed on June 22. A few gasped when the judge announced her decision.


Lynn, sitting at the defense table in black priestly garb without a clerical collar, didn’t appear to react. One of his lawyers, Jeffrey Lindy, patted the monsignor’s back.

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Trying to counter prosecutors’ argument that Lynn could seek asylum in the Vatican, the defense also proposed having him sign an extradition waiver.

Sarmina noted the waiver as a gesture of good will but said, "From all the case law, it sounds like it would be pretty worthless."

She asked defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom if he would serve Lynn’s sentence if the cleric absconded.

"Absolutely, because that’s the faith I have in the monsignor," Bergstrom said. "I’m not the least bit concerned that I’ll ever have to see the inside of a prison cell — and frankly, you shouldn’t be either."

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington, called such a proposal "absurd."

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