NEW JERSEY
The Record
TUESDAY MAY 7, 2013
BY JEFF GREEN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Parishioners of a Nutley church are confronting questions about a priest’s involvement with its youth programs even though he was banned from working with children, at the same time a Monmouth County church is recovering from three resignations following a scandal involving the same priest.
The pastor of Holy Family Church in Nutley, Monsignor Paul Bochicchio, told reporters that the Rev. Michael Fugee gave talks to his parish’s youth group and went with them on trips to Canada, even though Fugee had signed an agreement with prosecutors strictly prohibiting such activities.
Fugee was convicted in 2003 of aggravated criminal sexual contact after being charged with groping a 13-year-old boy while he was assistant pastor of St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Church in Wyckoff. The conviction was overturned on a technicality, but to avoid a second trial, Fugee agreed to never supervise or minister to children, and to stay away from youth groups, in an agreement signed by the Newark Archdiocese and the Bergen County prosecutor.
Lynn Falduto, secretary of the Nutley parish, defended her pastor and Fugee, saying he was only with the youth group when parents and other adults were present. Bochicchio also had said the supervision of Fugee should have satisfied the terms of his agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office.
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