5 Jurors Seated In Philadelphia Priest Abuse Case

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Five jurors have been seated to hear a landmark priest-abuse case in Philadelphia involving two priests charged with rape and a monsignor charged with protecting them.

Monsignor William Lynn is accused of endangering children by keeping his co-defendants in ministry.

Lynn says he tried to address the priest-abuse issue in 1994, only to have the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua (beh-vih-LAH’-kwah) block his efforts.

Prosecutors say Lynn is trying to blame the dead. A judge refused his latest attempt Monday to dismiss the charges.

Jury selection ended for the day Monday. In all, 12 jurors and 10 alternates will be chosen. Testimony is set to start March 26. Many prospective jurors have ties to Roman Catholic schools or parishes, but most say they can still be fair.