Divided jury returns Friday in Philly priest case

The Rev. James J. Brennan, right, accompanied by defense attorney

A stubbornly divided jury will have a day off to dwell on clergy-abuse charges pending against two Roman Catholic priests before returning for a 13th day of talks Friday.

Jurors deliberated anew for several hours Wednesday after telling a Philadelphia judge they were at an impasse on four of the case’s five charges. The panel won’t meet Thursday because a juror has a family conflict, the judge said.

Jurors are weighing criminal charges against a priest and a church supervisor, the first U.S. church official charged over his handling of abuse complaints.

Monsignor William Lynn is charged with conspiracy and child endangerment for allegedly helping the church cover up abuse complaints within the Philadelphia archdiocese from 1992 to 2004.

The Rev. James Brennan is charged with trying to rape a 14-year-old boy. [more]

SOURCE

Atlanta Journal Constitution