Pa. archdiocese named 'unindicted co-conspirator'

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Prosecutors are calling the Archdiocese of Philadelphia an “unindicted co-conspirator” in a clergy-abuse case — and say the Catholic church fed predators a steady supply of children.

The comment comes in a key pretrial hearing today before the March trial of a high-ranking church official, a priest and an ex-priest.

Monsignor William Lynn is charged with conspiring with priests and church officials to keep accused priests in ministry and parishioners in the dark.

To prove a conspiracy, prosecutors want to tell jurors about dozens of priests accused in a 2005 grand jury report. No charges were filed.

Defense lawyers say those allegations shouldn’t be aired in the current case.

Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, says the church can’t comment on the “co-conspirator” comment because of a gag order.