Recent allegations of sexual misconduct by a Roman Catholic priest have exploded into a discussion among members of the Ames Catholic community. Father Michael Fitzgerald of Marion was accused of using the Internet to inappropriately chat with someone he thought was a 13-year-old Iowa City boy, said Archbishop Jerome Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Fitzgerald was the priest at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion. The Internet watchdog group, Better A Millstone, first made allegations of Fitzgerald’s behavior public. The group’s assistant director, Michael Jones, posed as the boy Fitzgerald spoke with during the chats. Members of the Marion parish were notified of the chats, which had lasted over a year, this August. Members of the Ames Catholic churches said they acknowledge the seriousness of the situation but said the public can’t blame the entire faith. “I think it’s just one incident tied to the Catholic Church,” said Ann Wenger, junior in agriculture education and a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 2210 Lincoln Way. Andrea Fulcher, another member of St. Thomas, said the public needs to remember that priests are still people. “Unfortunately all people are human, including our Catholic priests,” said Fulcher, sophomore in pre-business. “Sometimes they have the same temptations as all people.” Members of both of the Ames Catholic churches said the situation hasn’t altered Sunday mass attendance or parish members’ image of the Catholic church. “These actions haven’t changed anything here,” said Crystal Carwanas-Sullivan, peer minister at St. Thomas Aquinas. “We aren’t large enough to be affected by it.” Father Terry Rasmussen of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave., said he’s sorry to hear the stories. “It’s always sad when we hear of accusations, but there appears to be no evidence of sexual misconduct,” he said. He also said since Fitzgerald used the computer and there wasn’t any physical violence, the public shouldn’t be concerned. Some members said such incidents are not widespread throughout Iowa, and their views are not changed because of one accusation. “This incident does not change my beliefs or views of the Catholic Church,” Fulcher said. “The Catholic Church is bigger than just one person, and it is God we are ultimately following.” Fulcher also said the church needs to support priests during situations like this. “We need to pray that they can remain true to their priestly vows of celibacy and can lead us properly,” she said. Archbishop Jerome Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque said Fitzgerald was placed on leave from the church this spring and has been undergoing treatment for “inappropriate Internet activity.” He said the expectation has been that Fitzgerald, 49, would return to his post at the Marion church after undergoing treatment in St. Louis. Hanus emphasized that Fitzgerald has never been accused of sexually abusing youngsters. He said Fitzgerald has been at the Marion church for about four years, after serving at a church in Cresco. Until now, he has always been in good standing.