Priest: We weren't prepared for abuse complaints

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? A priest assigned to help with child sex-abuse complaints at the Philadelphia archdiocese in the early 1990s says he was "woefully unprepared" and left after a year.

Monsignor James Beisel's (BYE'-zuhlz) testimony comes in the child-endangerment and conspiracy trial of his friend, Monsignor William Lynn.

Lynn is accused of keeping accused priests in ministry. Defense lawyers have started their case by calling three of his church colleagues.

The priests say Lynn talked compassionately with abusers and sent accused priests for mental-health evaluations.

Prosecutors note that Beisel left the job, while Lynn stayed from 1992 to 2004, despite a similar lack of training.

Beisel says he and Lynn went through secret files at night in early 1994 to review abuse complaints and make a list of 35 suspected pedophile-priests.

Associated Press

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