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	Suspended Catholic Priest Is Cleared By Lucero Benitez KION June 30, 2011 http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/15009270/suspended-catholic-priest-is-cleared Calif- New details on the molestation case against a monterey county priest. Another priest accused of keeping quiet about allegations against Father Edward Fitz-Henry, was cleared. The alleged victim claims Fitz-Henry molested him 6 years ago while Fitz-Henry was a priest at the Madonna del Sasso church. Now some big changes are coming for San Juan Bautista Mission parishioners. "Father Milich was never actually charged in the criminal courts with any offense. He violated a diocesan policy and as a result, Bishop Garcia revoked his privileges to serve as a priest in the Diocese of Monterey," said Diocese Spokesperson, Warren Hoy. In a statement given to Central Coast News in February, Fr Nicholas Milich admitted knowing about the allegations against Fr. Edward Fitz-Henry. He also knew the alleged victim was working with an attorney. Milich said "Because of this, I did not believe I needed to report at that time. In retrospect, I realize I should have at least reported this to Bishop Garcia." So Garcia suspended him for five months for failing to report the allegations. I asked why Fr. Milich is being allowed to practice again. "It was a serious offense but it doesn't warrant a death penalty for a priest, saying you can never again do anything for our diocese," said Hoy. Bishop Garcia is now letting Fr. Milich return to the Diocese of Monterey. He will start giving Latin mass this Sunday but it wont be at the same location, instead of serving at the San Juan Bautista Mission, he'll give latin mass at the Shrine of the Oblates of Saint Joseph in Santa Cruz. "He is to serve specifically at the shrine and only at the shrine and only for the latin mass. It's a very limited privilege that he has to do that," said Hoy. In a blog entry earlier this month, Fr. Milich said he's grateful to be returning but hoped it would be at the Mission in San Juan Bautista. The diocese wouldn't let that happen and asked parishioners the best place to hold the area's only Latin mass. "The people of the community receiving Latin mass found it more convenient for them to be in Santa Cruz and at an earlier time." Hoy said there hasn't been another case in our area where one priest failed to report another for abuse, so there were no prior punishment guidelines to work with.
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