Lawyer: Church Official Threw Peer ‘under Bus’

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A defense lawyer said Wednesday that Monsignor William Lynn’s successor threw Lynn “under the bus” in Philadelphia’s priest abuse scandal.

Lynn is the only archdiocese official facing trial. Prosecutors say he endangered children by keeping predators in the priesthood.

Defense lawyers say he took orders from Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.

In court Wednesday, a letter surfaced from Monsignor Timothy Senior, who followed Lynn as secretary for clergy in 2004.

A New Jersey diocese had asked about a priest accused of photographing students in their underwear. The letter said Lynn didn’t fully investigate the complaint.

Lawyer Jeffrey Lindy accused Senior of “throwing Monsignor Lynn under the bus.”

A gag order prevents church officials from responding.