An Archbishop's Arrogance: Editorial

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board
The Star-Ledger
February 5, 2013 http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2013/02/an_archbishops_arrogance_edito.html

The Rev. Michael Fugee was found guilty in Bergen County Superior Court on April 11, 2003, of fondling a teenage boy. Defense attorney Brian J. Neary pats Fugee, seated, on the shoulder as he proceeds to the judge's bench after the verdict. The verdict was later overturned by the state appellate court.

How is it possible that Catholic bishops, scorned for their bungling of the church’s sex abuse scandal, remain so consistently tone-deaf when it comes to their kid-gloves treatment of accused priests?

What else explains Newark Archbishop John J. Myers’ appointment of the Rev. Michael Fugee — a priest forbidden to be alone with children after admitting he groped a boy in his parish — to a prestigious position in the archdiocese?

A spokesman says the archdiocese “has every confidence” in Fugee, that he won’t be left alone with kids. That’s an extraordinary vote of confidence for a man who confessed to touching a young boy — escaping only on a technicality.

Sadly, this isn’t surprising. It’s Myers’ pattern of misplaced faith in men who abused the church’s youngest parishioners.

Fugee is one of four priests Myers shielded from accusations they targeted and abused children. He was charged in 2001 after confessing he grabbed the crotch of a 14-year-old boy — though he later recanted. He was convicted of criminal sexual contact, but the verdict was overturned on a judge’s error.

Instead of retrying Fugee, prosecutors struck a deal that let him avoid charges, in exchange for agreeing to undergo counseling and never have unsupervised contact with children.

But in 2009, Myers appointed Fugee chaplain of St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, with unfettered access to patients and visitors, including kids. Neither told the hospital about Fugee’s restrictions. The hospital sought his removal only after a reporter asked questions.

Now Myers has a new job for Fugee. The job doesn’t put him in contact with children, but rather includes him educating priests. He still leads Mass regularly.

Fugee’s new position shows “breathtaking arrogance,” says Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the BishopAccountability.org watchdog group. It’s hard to disagree. Myers believes Fugee is a victim, not a predator. His actions back it up.

For decades, U.S. Catholic bishops demonstrated insensitive incompetence, responding to sexual abuse by moving accused priests from parish to parish — Myers among them. In 2002, U.S. bishops adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward abusers and required background checks for anyone working with children. Yet despite Fugee’s confession, Myers repeatedly ignored the record.

Fugee’s promotions insult all victims of clergy abuse. In doing so, Myers continues to defiantly stain the church, including its innocent clergy and generations of parishioners who believed their children were the flock, when they were actually the prey.