Posted on 02/19/2011 1:06:42 PM PST by Gamecock
he Diocese of Monterey announced Friday that a second priest has been stripped of religious duties — the latest fallout from allegations that a Central Coast clergyman sexually molested a teenager in Salinas.
Diocese spokesman Tom Riordan said church officials learned Thursday that the priest failed to notify proper authorities after he was approached in November or December by the alleged victim, who told him about his allegations against the Rev. Edward Fitz-Henry.
"The priest didn't report it to anyone," said Riordan, adding that the diocese's policies clearly state that allegations of this nature must be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities.
He said Bishop Richard Garcia has removed the clergyman's authority to perform priestly duties, including celebrating Mass, within all four counties in the local diocese. Riordan said the priest has been working locally for the past two years but officially belongs to a different diocese.
It is unclear why a report wasn't made, said Riordan, who declined to disclose the clergyman's name or the diocese he belongs to.
"He's not accused of sexual misconduct," he said. "He didn't follow our policies and is being punished ..., but we're not putting a huge cloud over his name either."
Diocese officials initially learned of the allegations Jan. 7 and approached Salinas police within an hour of receiving a letter from the alleged victim and his lawyer. That same day, church officials suspended Fitz-Henry with pay at the San Juan Bautista Mission — standard procedure when such allegations arise.
Salinas police said this week that officers opened an investigation into the allegations against Fitz-Henry, in light of a Feb. 1 report made by the priest's accuser and his lawyer. Police said no arrest has been made.
Fitz-Henry, now in his 50s and born in Ireland, has served the diocese for 25 years between Madonna del Sasso and the San Juan Bautista Mission.
On Tuesday, the priest's accuser, now 21, filed suit in Monterey County Superior Court, seeking damages and alleging he suffered sexual abuse when he was 14 at Madonna del Sasso in late 2005 and early 2006.
Fitz-Henry has denied all allegations against him, his lawyer has said.
Should have suspected something when they noticed was hanging around with Henry Fitz-Edward.
More each day.
Good. Meanwhile our public schoos are busy doing their damndest to sexualize childhood. Am I the only one who believes this is dangerous and will lead to more victims? I think it makes them more vulnerable because they are told to be accepting of sexual behavior (hetero or homo) and that the only wrong thing about sex is STD and/or pregnancy.
The corruption of innocence is a grave sin and a fearsome judgment will be upon the corrupters.
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