BishopAccountability.org
	Second Priest Removed in Salinas Sex-abuse Case By Sunita Vijayan The Californian February 19, 2011 http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20110219/NEWS01/102190319 The 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.
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