Consent order requires priest accused of sexual abuse at the request of the Vatican for the removal of the priesthood

Prosecutor of Bergen County, New Jersey John L. Molinelli issued a press release last week announcing an unusual resolution in a case of sexual abuse of clergy.  As explained yesterday a report RNS, in 2007 Catholic priest Michael Fugee, in order to avoid a retrial on charges of sexual misconduct, signed an agreement, embodied in a court order and the memorandum of understanding, banned you from ministering to children.  It was discovered earlier this year that refugee violated the agreement going to youth retreats and listening to the confessions of teens.  In response, in may he was accused of 5 charges of criminal contempt.  On 1 November, those positions were eliminated through a binding agreement and the court order under which refugee agreed to a request from the Vatican to remove it permanently from the priesthood.  Prosecutor Molinelli said that this result could not have been achieved by the conviction of contempt because:

do not believe that the American justice system has such authority as a condition of parole or by conviction. This is a requirement that eliminates the threat of Michael Fugee, never more, gain the trust of the people through its clerical position or using its position ordained as priest to exercise improper contact with children... The agreement reached forever bars Michael Fugee the same holding as a current or former priest or spiritual counselor. Most importantly, it is prohibited to work with children in any capacity. 

Molinelli also highlighted that this new order will be supervised by the office of the Prosecutor and not by the Archdiocese of Newark, in which Molinelli has lost confidence.

Update: Here is the full text of the order of the Court in the State of New Jersey v. refugee, (N.J. Super. CT., November 01, 2013).