March 29, 2012
Witness: Philadelphia Priest Stalked, Undressed Me
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A witness in the Philadelphia priest-abuse trial says a priest stalked and undressed him at his Catholic high school before a knock on the door saved him.
The 36-year-old man is the first accuser called to testify in the landmark trial of Monsignor William Lynn.
Lynn, the former secretary for clergy, is charged with endangering children by helping the church hide abuse complaints.
The witness testified Wednesday that the priest first saw him at a gay bookstore in 1991 wearing a Saint John Neumann jacket, and later showed up at the school.
A 2005 grand jury report says the archdiocese knew of his complaint and others, and moved the priest six times to new parishes.
The report says the priest was removed from ministry in 2003 amid the criminal investigation.
