Abuse watchdogs cite bishops’ ‘failings’
Even as an annual review in mid-May gave Catholic bishops high marks on sexual abuse prevention policies, officials with the church’s oversight agencies expressed serious concerns about “recent high-profile failings.”
The latest scandal has shaken Newark, New Jersey, where Archbishop John Myers failed to stop a priest from ministering to children in several parishes even though the archbishop had assured prosecutors that he would enforce a lifetime ban on the priest’s access to children following a molestation case.
Myers initially defended his oversight of Michael Fugee, but under increasing pressure he reversed himself. Fugee then resigned from ministry, but there are ongoing calls for Myers to step down.
