Fr. Madden went to the diocese first and did not get any support or action.I'm sure he didn't.
He had two further options: (1) going over the ordinary's head to the bishop's conference and if that fell through (2) reporting Fr. Fay to the police.
Bishop Lori admits that he cut Fr. Fey slack because he was having health problems.
Not surprising. These guys all develop health problems as soon as this stuff arises.
Fr. Madden only went outside the "chain of command" after it failed him and his parishoners.
He didn't follow the chain of command any further than one link. And as a result, he failed his parishioners and has apparently decided to abandon them.
Would you have the same opinion of a priest who took action on his own if the concern had been child molestation?
Absolutely. If he suspected a fellow priest of such crimes, he should have reported his suspicions to the police immediately - not hired a private investigator.
First let me tell you that I live in this diocese. I have a lot of respect for Bishop Lori and his leadership; but he really dropped the ball on this one. This was not simply a criminal issue of stealing or misuse of parish funds. That was only one aspect. Fr. Fey's entire lifestyle was in complete conflict with what a priests life is supposed to be; exhibit one would be an article in a Philadelphia-area gay magazine in which Fr. Fey (not identified as a priest) and his "companion" give their opinion on the most romantic restaurant in the area. Fr. Fey was scandalizing the Church and his flock. Going to the police about the parish funds is in effect "going public". At least the results of a private investigation could have been used to quietly get the diocese to acknowledge the problems and do something.