Bishops hold back

Archbishop John Myers of Newark, once of Peoria, where he instituted conservative measures, has been at the forefront of stemming and facing up to clergy abuse.

But a Star-Ledger review of the archbishops record since 2002 shows Myers on at least four occasions has shielded priests accused of sexual abuse against minors and one adult. In the four instances, the priests have either admitted improper sexual contact, pleaded guilty to crimes stemming from accusations of sexual misconduct or been permanently barred from ministry by the archdiocese after allegations of sexual misconduct.

The archdiocese also wrote a letter of recommendation for one of the priests, a week after it learned he was accused of breaking into a womans home in Florida and possibly assaulting her.

It’s a matter of taking “a cautious hand in publicly naming priests” and feeling the weight of the issue. On the other hand, he

has failed to live up to the guidelines and spirit of what was set forth in Dallas [in 2002, where he was an advocate of sterner
measures]. The most controversial example is the Rev. Michael Fugee, who confessed to police eight years ago that he molested a 13-year-old boy. Fugee was never ousted from the priesthood, and the archdiocese assigned him last year as chaplain to St. Michaels Hospital in Newark without telling hospital officials of his past.

It’s the bishop’s problem in this matter. They can’t pull triggers.