DARIEN (CT)
The New York Times
By ALISON LEIGH COWAN
Published: May 24, 2006
DARIEN, Conn., May 23 — About 200 protesters gathered at the town's oldest Roman Catholic church to protest the Bridgeport Diocese's demotion on Tuesday of a priest, Father Michael Madden, who was put in charge of their parish only last week.
The change in Father Madden's responsibilities at Saint John Parish followed the unexpected announcement he made at Mass on Tuesday morning that unbeknownst to the diocese, he had helped hire the private investigator who cataloged instances of financial impropriety on the part of the previous pastor, Father Michael Jude Fay.
Those findings embarrassed the diocese and became part of the criminal investigation swirling around Father Fay.
Parishioners smarting over revelations that Father Fay may have been living the high life at their expense were angry that Father Madden, or Father Mike, as they call him, might have paid a price for having tried to put an end to it.