Pa. monsignor surrenders passport, awaits release

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lawyers for a Roman Catholic church official have surrendered his passport as they try to get him out of prison on bail after 18 months.

Monsignor William Lynn’s bail has been set at $250,000 after an appeals court overturned his conviction in the clergy-abuse scandal.

Monsignor Lynn is the first U.S. church official person ever convicted for hiding abuse complaints. But an appeals court now says the child-endangerment felony did not apply to him.

Officials at the state prison in Waymart, in northeastern Pennsylvania, are awaiting word Wednesday on when he can be released.

Defense lawyer Thomas Bergstrom says he is trying to set up the electronic monitoring ordered by the trial judge.

Monsignor Lynn is expected to live in Philadelphia while prosecutors ask the state Supreme Court to restore his conviction.