NJ Prosecutor Blasts Newark Archbishop

SNAP
November 8, 2013

http://www.snapnetwork.org/nj_prosecutor_blasts_newark_archbishop

[The Record]

[The Star-Ledger]

Prosecutors have reached a highly unusual deal with a Fr. Michael Fugee, a Newark predator priest who was to be kept away from kids by Archbishop John Myers and his staff but was not.

This is an unprecedented agreement. But the crisis in Newark’s Catholic archdiocese is not a Fugee or even a Myers crisis. It's a deeply-rooted crisis that involves dozens of current and former Catholic clerics who have committed and are concealing heinous child sex crimes. Only a grand jury will uncover the full truth and truly protect kids and deter future cover ups and recklessness.

Fr. Fugee has repeatedly broken secular laws and religious vows. We are not confident he'll obey this order. And it’s not clear how or if this deal will in any way hold Archbishop Myers or his top aides responsible for their inexcusable, deceitful and self-serving role in Fr. Fugee’s crimes. That must happen if Newark kids are to be safer and more cover ups of child molesting clerics are to be prevented.

We appreciate the prosecutor's strong and accurate comments about Newark Catholic officials. Sadly, however, Catholic officials are monarchs, so they typically don't change their irresponsible, callous and deceitful behavior just because they've been criticized in public. More is needed.

Specifically, we again call for a thorough grand jury investigation into the continuing selfish cover ups in the Newark Archdiocese.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy 314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com

Barbara Dorris 314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com

Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com

Mark Crawford 732 632 7687, mecrawf@comcast.net