By Zach Subar
Chatham Patch
August 6, 2010
http://chatham.patch.com/articles/parishioners-criticize-accused-murderers-allegation-of-sexual-relationship-with-priest
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News that janitor Jose Feliciano claims a sexual relationship motivated him to kill St. Patrick's Church pastor Edward Hinds has sparked a variety of reactions from members of the church community.
According to a Daily Record report, Feliciano told officials from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office he became angry and stabbed Hinds after Hinds refused to break off a sexual relationship with him.
Assistant Prosecutor John McNamara has said, however, the murder seems rooted in a molestation charge against Feliciano from 1988. In the time surrounding the murder, according to prosecutors, the Diocese of Paterson was conducting background checks on its employees, and prosecutors surmised that Feliciano feared for his job.
Hinds was found dead in the church's kitchen Oct. 23. Feliciano was arrested the next day.
Capt. Jeffrey S. Paul, primary spokesperson for Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, said today he could not comment on the specifics of the matter, but he confirmed the evidence regarding Feliciano's accusation was filed in Superior Court in Morristown.
Longtime church parishioners said Friday they are skeptical of Feliciano's explanation.
"As far as I can tell, everything that I've read indicates absolutely no proof of Jose's accusation," said Andrew Gyves, who coaches basketball at St. Patrick's School. The school is affiliated with the church.
Fellow parishioner Tom Ford grew up going to St. Patrick's and has four children in the school. He had known Hinds since the 1970s, when he first came to the church.
Ford said he predicted nine months ago that Feliciano would resort to the "sexual relationship" defense.
"I said, 'Some lawyer will get a hold of him and all of a sudden it will be a sex scandal,'" said Ford, who also said he received several phone calls this morning from people asking how he had known. "It's an easy target. With all the problems in the Catholic church over the last 10 years, it's an easy one."
In the past day, Ford said, his opinion of Feliciano has changed.
"Jose, who I felt compassion for—until I opened today's Star-Ledger—I think is gutless, and a coward," he said. "It's sad that when your back is to the wall you'll do anything and say anything."
Parishioners also said the timing of the incident seems strange.
"What a coincidence that the first time this alleged affair meant anything to him ... was the day he was about to be fired," Ford said, referring to the background checks that were about to uncover Feliciano's secrets. "This charge is gutless, as far as I'm concerened. It's a gutless move."
Feliciano has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
McNamara said in state Superior Court last week that most relevant records in the case have been provided. He said the state would be prepared for a trial by winter 2011—which McNamara said has been floated as a trial start date.
The records include phone logs, home and computer archives and DNA reports.
Regardless of what happens with Feliciano, Gyves said the congregation's hearts "go out to Jose's wife and children. They continue to be in our thoughts and prayers." Gyves has coached Feliciano's daughter in basketball.
But he also said he wishes Hinds were here to defend himself from the accusations of a sexual relationship. And Ford said the pastor's memory will be tarnished forever because of what Feliciano is alleging.
"It's a shame," Ford said. "Finally, people were starting to get to the point where they were healing and recovering from this, and now you get this nonsense."
Ford said he didn't agree with every decision Hinds made for the parish, but he never doubted him as a person. And he fears his legacy will now be ruined.
"In the over 30 years that I've know him, he's nothing of the highest character," he said. "I think it's a shame to see a coward trash his memory like this."
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