New Letter from Connell to Cdf

By Tom Roberts
National Catholic Reporter
April 30, 2013

http://ncronline.org/blogs/update-new-letter-connell-cdf

Following is a letter Fr. Connell sent today to CDF after hearing from the spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark

April 30, 2013

Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller

Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Vatican City State

Europe

Dear Archbishop Muller,

Yesterday I sent you an email letter regarding Archbishop John Myers of the Archdiocese of Newark (USA) and his handling of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Fr. Michael Fugee. I also sent a copy of that email letter to Archbishop Myers. Within a few hours yesterday, James Goodness, the Director of Communications and Public Relations of the Archdiocese of Newark, replied to me and his email is below.

Please notice that the fourth paragraph of Mr. Goodness’ email reads: “Archbishop Myers did send all information surrounding the allegation, including the court documents and the Review Board materials, to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith following the conclusion of the Archdiocesan Review Board's investigation. The Congregation subsequently, after a complete review of the materials, concurred that there was no sexual abuse and that Fr. Fugee could return to ministry.”

I have two questions.

First, is it correct that Archbishop Myers sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) all the information regarding the Fr. Fugee allegation, including all of the court documents that I mentioned in my email to you yesterday (Fr. Fugee’s confession to the crime and the Memorandum of Understanding that stipulated requirements agreed to by Fr. Fugee and the Archdiocese of Newark in lieu of a court trial)?

Second, is it correct as Mr. Goodness states that the CDF “concurred that there was no sexual abuse and that Fr. Fugee could return to ministry”?

Archbishop Muller, a thorough and prompt explanation of this situation is needed.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Reverend James E. Connell