Friday, May 18, 2012

Philadelphia church mum on priest until donor complained

Documents from a clergy-abuse trial show Catholic church officials ignored complaints a Philadelphia priest had molested two boys until they heard he was running a travel agency - and competing with a big donor.

The documents involving defrocked priest Michael McCarthy come as the prosecution details how the archdiocese handled abuse complaints against about 20 priests.

They were never charged with crimes because authorities didn't know about the complaints for years.

Monsignor William Lynn is on trial, charged with helping the church hide abuse complaints as secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004. 

Lynn has pleaded not guilty.

The 75-year-old McCarthy now lives in Margate, N.J., where one accuser says he was abused at the priest's beach house. 

McCarthy has said that it didn't happen