BishopAccountability.org
	Leniency Sought for Priest By Donna Porstner The Advocate November 30, 2007 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-fay5nov30,0,7203188.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines A federal judge should show leniency to the Rev. Michael Jude Fay when the priest is sentenced next week because he's dying of prostate cancer and spent 28 years performing good works, his attorney said in court papers filed this week. Fay's work with the terminally ill and theatrical productions should be taken into account during his sentencing Tuesday, his attorney, Lawrence Hopkins, wrote in a memo filed in U.S. District Court in New Haven on Wednesday. "Any significant sentence of incarceration will likely result in defendant's dying alone in prison," Hopkins wrote. "This would be an unduly harsh result in light of Michael Fay's lifelong commitment to comfort the dying." Hopkins included statements from friends and former parishioners who said Fay helped them through the loss of loved ones, including Tony and Penny Blazej, whose young daughter died of a genetic disease. "Fr. Jude stood by our side during the diagnosis, treatments, illness and death of our daughter. He always seemed to know when to be there," the couple wrote. "He even took a trip to visit Pope Paul and together they prayed for a miracle to cure our daughter." Catherine Cincogrono, a teacher from Newtown, said Fay was there for her friend who died of brain cancer and others in their time of need. "Michael is not the glamorous creature portrayed in the newspaper," she wrote. "Anyone who knows him can tell you that he is a devoted son, uncle, brother and friend who has never forgotten his humble beginnings." Fay pleaded guilty in September to embezzling from St. John Roman Catholic Church in Darien, where he had been the pastor for 15 years. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 46 months to 57 months, based on federal sentencing guidelines, for stealing $1.3 million. They say he used the money, siphoned into secret bank accounts, to travel around the world and put a down payment on a Philadelphia condominium. A 2006 audit by the Bridgeport Diocese found Fay inappropriately spent $1.4 million over six years to purchase airline tickets, limousine rides, Ethan Allen furniture, Cartier jewelry and designer clothing. Fay resigned as pastor in May 2006 under pressure from Bishop William Lori of the Bridgeport Diocese. Fay should receive a lesser sentence because chemotherapy is not working and his cancer is progressing, Hopkins said. He is being screened to see whether he qualifies for a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, Hopkins said. Although there is no documentation to prove it, Hopkins said, some of the $1.3 million was spent within Fay's "pastoral discretion" to buy gifts and entertain parishioners, church staff and volunteers.
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