Newark Priest Accused of Sexually Abusing Teen Still Working

By Bob Holt
New Jersey Newsroom
February 5, 2013

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/priest-accused-of-sexually-abusing-teen-still-working-in-newark

A Newark priest who has been barred from having unsupervised contact with children has been named co-director of the Office of Continuing Education and Ongoing Formation of Priests.

Archbishop of Newark John Myers announced the appointment of 52-year old Rev. Michael Fugee, who was charged with criminal sexual contact and child endangerment for allegedly fondling a 13-year-old boy in 2001.

In 2002, American bishops reached an agreement called the Dallas Charter, which removes all priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children. According to NorthJersey.com, David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivor Network of Those Abused by Priests said, “I think it’s a clear violation of the Dallas Charter, not to mention simple common sense and decency.”

But he said the Catholic Church had not enforced the charter evenly.

According to patheos.com, the decision to convict Fugee was reversed on a technicality. A Bergen County jury heard Fugee describe himself as bisexual or homosexual, and the appeals court said that statement could have led to a conviction because of the “unfounded association between homosexuality and pedophilia.” Instead of being retried, Fugee was placed in a rehab program for first-time sex offenders, and barred from being alone with children for the rest of his life.

According to NJ.com, referring to Myers, Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, a group that tracks priest abuse allegations said, “No reasonable person would give a prestigious assignment to a priest deemed by law enforcement to be a danger to children. I hope Newark Catholics call him to account.”

Fugee has been the director of the Newark Archdiocese Office of the Propagation of the Faith in recent years. Archdiocese spokesman Jim Goodness said Fugee would not be alone with children under any circumstances in his new position.