NJ - Prosecutor blasts Newark archbishop

For immediate release: Friday, Nov. 8, 2013

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected]) 

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.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/Accused_priest_Fugee_pleads_guilty_to_contempt_agrees_to_leave_priesthood.html

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/bergen_prosecutor_rips_newark_archbishop_says_charged_clergyman_will_leave_priesthood.html

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.

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Mark Crawford (732 632 7687, [email protected])