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	Victim's Group Asks Supporters to Take down Website for Accused Priest By Kiki Jones KION August 9, 2011 http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/15237581/activist-group-asks-suportes-to-take-down-website-for-accuse-priest Calif- In response to three clergy sex abuse lawsuits and what they call a "disturbing" new website, clergy sex abuse victims are asking Monterey's Catholic bishop to educate parishioners on how respond appropriately when priests are accused of molesting kids. Tuesday, members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, say they sent a letter to Monterey Bishop Richard Garcia. The letter asks Bishop Garcia to reach out to parishioners at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, some of whom have launched a website supporting Edward Fitz-Henry, a priest who was sued in February for allegedly abusing a young boy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Many Catholics in Monterey are suffering because of predator clerics in your diocese. Instead of engaging in stall tactics and telling Catholics half-truths, now is the time to come clean, release secret personnel documents, support victims and allow everyone to heal. Keeping your flock in the dark and allowing them to attack victims helps no one." SNAP ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The website, In-Support-Of-Fr-Ed.com, claims that Father Fitz-Henry is innocent. The group claims that he was falsely accused and is asking people to donate money to his defense fund. Central Coast News has contacted the parishioners in charge of the website but they say that they want to speak with Fitz-Henry's attorney first. On the website Fitx-Henry's supporters wrote, "Fr. Ed, if you are able to read this site, please know that your parishioners are still tearful at Mass. Being at Old Mission is a painful reminder that a thief has entered our home and kidnapped a favorite relative in the middle of the night. We are praying for your return home." In a news release SNAP says that they want the website removed and for the group to quietly support Fitz-Henry. Fitz-Henry's supporters say that false accusations and mass hysteria against the Catholic Church is similar to what happened at the Salem Witch Trials, "In some parts of the country, the situation is not all that unlike the Salem Witch Trials in which all anyone had to do was point a finger and the accused was tried, nearly always found guilty (guilty until proven innocent was the norm, as it tends to be in the case of accused priests), and hung." On their website his supports blame, false memories, settlements, grudges, and overly zealous organizations for the wide spread accusations.
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