A local newspaper in Seaside, California tenaciously pursued a story concerning a sexual abuse scandal involving a parish priest, determining that the Catholic Diocese of Monterey went to extraordinary lengths to keep the truth from the public. The Diocese paid the alleged victim known as John “RJ” Doe $500,000 to settle the case, but while the priest was removed from his priestly duties, he was not charged with any crime and denies he abused any children. The Monterey County Weekly appealed a court order that kept documents from discovery sealed and after two years prevailed in a district court of appeal. You can find the weekly’s full Special Report online including an interview with the accused Father Edward Fitz-Henry. (Monterey County Weekly, October 29, 2015, by Mary Duan)
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