BishopAccountability.org
	SNAP Protests Bail for Perlitz By Meg Learson Grosso Fairfield Minuteman October 22, 2009 http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20381124&BRD=1653&PAG=461&dept_id=686445&rfi=6 Two members of SNAP, Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests - an organization that, despite its name, includes those abused by rabbis and Protestant ministers as well as priests - stood in the pouring rain last Thursday to hold a "media event" outside the entrance to Fairfield University. The survivors, Jim Hackett and Gail Howard, asked that institution to use its resources to do two things: urge other victims of Fr. Eugene O'Brien to come forward and ask Judge Joan Margolis to keep Doug Perlitz in jail when his bail-hearing continues on Oct. 28. O'Brien is a Jesuit who was principal of Fairfield Prep in the mid-1980s, and was at Fordham Prep during the 1960s and 1970s and at St. Peter's Prep in Newark before that. Doug Perlitz has been recently indicted on ten counts of sexually abusing minors. A spokesperson for Fairfield University, Nancy Habetz said that she was not sure that anyone ever proved that O'Brien was guilty of sexual abuse. However, according to the web site BishopAccountability.org, the Jesuits settled the O'Brien case in New York for $25,000 in 1997. The two SNAP representatives said that if there were other victims, they would like them to come forward so that they can get help for themselves. "The more people who come forward, the more that others feel empowered to come forward," Hackett said, adding that this would help those who were abused to heal. "It isn't real until you tell other people, until you can stand up in public and say, 'This happened,' " said Howard. Hackett said that during his successful lawsuit, he had to write a public statement to explain what the molestation had done to him, and how it had made him feel. "Going through that process caused me to work through those feeling and to get past them finally." "It's like a weight lifting off your shoulders that you've been carrying around," he added. Howard said that after other people came forward, she said, "Wait a minute. You mean I'm not the only one? You find there was a group you could go to, people who knew what the pain was like. I think that's when I knew it wasn't my fault." Bail for Perlitz was another issue that concerned the two survivors. According to a grand jury indictment, Perlitz used gifts, special treatment, food and alcohol, as well as threats, to convince boys to do his bidding, including sleeping in his room at night. He is accused of ten counts of traveling to foreign countries for the purpose of having illicit sexual conduct with nine different minor boys. Perlitz, a layman, graduated from Fairfield University in 1992. Shortly thereafter, he went to Haiti, where he set up an intake center and a school for street children. In 2002, Perlitz was honored at Fairfield University's graduation for his work in Haiti. The Haiti Fund received funding from donations given at the chapel at Fairfield University and from a variety of individuals, some of whom had large fund raisers consisting of cocktail parties and dances. It was supposed to be used for the wok in Haiti, called Project Pierre Toussaint. Between 2002 and 2008, a total of $2,003,350 was transferred from The Haiti Fund to Perlitz, according to the indictment, which said that Perlitz had sole access to that money. Other funds were provided for school expenses. Trustees of Project Pierre Toussaint, removed Perlitz in mid-2008. He was arrested approximately a month ago. Perlitz is currently being held in a prison in Rhode Island and Judge Joan Margolis has asked for $5 million in bond. His attorneys asked that the hearing be delayed from this week to next in order to raise that money. The SNAP survivors are asking that Perlitz be held without bond, for fear that he will flee the country, or intimidate witnesses. "He should not be out on bail. This is a compulsive behavior," said Howard of child molestation. The University issued a response to the SNAP network and their insistence that the allegations against O'Brien and Perlitz must be considered credible. "It seems it would be prudent for us all to remember that in our system of law, one is considered innocent until proven guilty. We are all aware that right now the Doug Perlitz case is working its way through our justice system, as it should," said a statement issued by Rama Sudhaker, Vice President for Marketing and Communication for Fairfield University. "At the same time, as an institution of higher education, we respect the right to the peaceful and free exchange of ideas. We certainly join with all parties who have an interest in the well-being of all children, including, of course, the Haitian children," continued Sudhaker, adding that there will be a review of campus support for charitable organizations and a forum will be held on campus to discuss the university's mission as a Jesuit and Catholic university and its principles related to helping and serving those in need.
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