Catholics show support for Hubbard

Albany Times-Union ^ | 2/9/2004 | Leigh Hornbeck

[sinkspur]

Albany -- Parishioners wear purple ribbons to show support for Hubbard in face of sex allegations

Parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Church are wearing purple ribbons to show support for Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard as he fights allegations of sexual misconduct. Roman Catholics at several area parishes rallied around the bishop over the weekend after he was accused of having sexual relations in the 1970s with a young man who later committed suicide.

Saturday worshippers at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception placed about 50 votive candles around the bishop's chair. Sunday, parishioners at St. Vincent's donned purple ribbons.

Kathy Menard of Albany hopes the wearing of purple ribbons will spread throughout the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

"It is important that the bishop and the world know many, many, many of his community members support him," Menard said. "He has stood in solidarity many times with people when they were troubled, it's important we do so now. We feel an injustice has been done."

Hubbard, 64, vehemently denied allegations made Wednesday that he had an affair with Thomas N. Zalay after Zalay's brother produced a suicide note describing a "decadent and sinful" relationship with the bishop. Thomas Zalay died after he set fire to himself at his family's Albany home in 1978.

Friday, a second man alleged he had at least two paid sexual encounters with Hubbard between 1976 and 1979. Anthony Bonneau, of Schenectady, said he recognized Hubbard as one of his johns when he saw the bishop's picture on television 10 years ago.

Michael and Kathy Burgess of Delmar passed out hundreds of purple ribbons at St. Vincent's Sunday, Michael Burgess said. He called the bishop the saintliest person he has ever known, and described the allegations as a smear campaign.

"It's time for Catholic lay people to stand up and fight the perception that Bishop Hubbard is not supported," said Michael Burgess.

Burgess works with the Statewide Senior Action Council and plans to wear his purple ribbon at work -- "all the way to Easter and after if necessary," he said.

At the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the congregation of more than 100 people applauded after the Rev. William H. Pape defended the bishop during the 11 a.m. Mass.

"Having known the man for 40 years, I know him to be a man of integrity, intelligence, holiness and compassion," said Pape.

Pape also read a letter from Hubbard that the bishop requested be read at each Mass throughout the diocese Sunday.

The letter, dated Feb. 5, closely followed Hubbard's statement to the news media on the same date.

Hubbard reiterated he has never sexually abused anyone, and has honored his vow of celibacy. He wrote that although he never knew Zalay, he would pray for his soul. Hubbard asked parishioners to pray for him.

Dawn Morrison of Colonie said she would pray for Hubbard after services Sunday at St. Clare's Church on Central Avenue

"If these allegations had any validity, it would have come out right away," Morrison said.

The bishop is innocent until proven guilty, Morrison said. She called the charges "a horrendous slap in the face to the Christian and Catholic community."

John Kearney of Colonie said Hubbard is entitled to the same due process as anyone else but was less emphatic in his support of the bishop.

"His reputation up to now doesn't lend him special privileges," Kearney said at St. Clare's.

St. Vincent's parishioner Menard of Albany wrote a letter she hopes to publish in The Evangelist, a weekly newspaper that is the official publication of the diocese, expressing her "unequivocal support" of the bishop. At Mass, she said she gathered more than 300 signatures after she invited people to sign the letter.

Deb Riitano of Schenectady also makes purple ribbons. She hopes wearing them will unite Catholics.

"It's a tough time to be a Catholic," she said.

Riitano's statements were echoed by Pape. "It's not easy being Catholic these days," he said. "Hold up your head, do not be ashamed and, as the bishop said -- truth will prevail."

[sinkspur]

Interesting that neither of these accusations can readily be proven. Is attorney Aretakis out fishing for somebody a little more believeable?

[Loyalist]

Howard Hubbard PING

[johnb2004]

"His reputation up to now doesn't lend him special privileges,"

[sinkspur]

Hubbard should, as you would were you in his shoes, get the presumption of innocence.

Especially since these accusations are simply a matter of hearsay, in one case, and a man with a grudge in the other case. Neither can be conclusively proven.

Too convenient.

[johnb2004]

I have known falsely accused people. They never recover from the accusations. The police and prosecution can be worse than criminals. BUT, the bishop is no ordinary person. He has more power than an ordinary man and has more resources.

I also still have not read anywhere that Hubbard has said he will be praying for his accusers. He can and I am sure does have many underlings who will do his dirty work for him.

[sinkspur]

I also still have not read anywhere that Hubbard has said he will be praying for his accusers.

Actually, he did say, in his original response to the first accusation, say he was praying for Zalay.

Why is defending a man who has said he is innocent "dirty work"? Dirty work is making false accusations, which, I believe, has happened twice here.

[eastsider]

I also still have not read anywhere that Hubbard has said he will be praying for his accusers.

From the text of the article:

LHubbard reiterated he has never sexually abused anyone, and has honored his vow of celibacy. He wrote that although he never knew Zalay, he would pray for his soul.

[Polycarp IV]

Dirty work is making false accusations, which, I believe, has happened twice here.

All abuse cases in the 70's, 80's and even into the late 90's were handled by these bishops on the presumption that the charges were false and the accusers worthy of only humiliation, derision, and scorn. They spared no effort in terrorizing victims into silence.

You continue this proud tradition by characterizing these current accusation as false accusations, before any further investigation to establish their veracity.

You should at least give equal benefit of the doubt to both the accused and the accusers. A polygrapg test by Hubbard and the male child prostitute would be a great place to start, something we could all agree upon, right?

[Deo volente]

"It's a tough time to be a Catholic."




Especially in that troubled diocese.

[johnb2004]

Thank you. I had not seen that.

[johnb2004]

Why is defending a man who has said he is innocent "dirty work"? Dirty work is making false accusations, which, I believe, has happened twice here.

You have no way of knowing if they are false. Why vilify them?

[m4629]

and a man with a grudge in the other case

Just how do you know that? That's unfairly jumping to conclusion. If you want people play fair with Hubbard, you should also play fair with the accusers. Doubld Standard don't wash with me. You lose personal credibility when you do that.

[NYer]

Parishioners wear purple ribbons to show support for Hubbard in face of sex allegations

Seems appropriate enough.

[sinkspur]

If you want people play fair with Hubbard, you should also play fair with the accusers.

I am allowed to give my opinion, aren't I. I suspect you think Hubbard's guilty.

We are free, on FR, to voice opinions. This is not a court of law (there will be no court in these cases anyway, as the statute of limitations ran out on them long ago.)

[sitetest]

Dear CathFam,

"All abuse cases in the 70's, 80's and even into the late 90's were handled by these bishops on the presumption that the charges were false and the accusers worthy of only humiliation, derision, and scorn. They spared no effort in terrorizing victims into silence."

1. Not ALL abuse cases in the '70s, '80s, and even into the late '90s were handled this way at all. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

There were dioceses that hard largely gotten their act together by the '80s. Even in dioceses where much has been made of failures, there were many appropriate responses, as in Baltimore, where several cases were handled wrongly into the '90s, but an even greater number of cases were handled appropriately, as well.

Then, there were dioceses that had so few incidents over the decades, that it took the larger scandal of the Church to make them see what were the real problems.

2. It was right to presume the accusations false at first. It was wrong not to take them seriously. Worse yet, even when the charges were proven, the bishops acted wrongly.

Even when bishops knew the charges were true, some of them still spared no effort terrorizing victims into silence.

The problem of the bishops was not the initial presumption of innocence, but the failure to act on knowledge of guilt.


But in any event, until the accusations are proven true, the presumption is always that the accused is innocent.

As well, in this particular case, the evidence supporting the accusations isn't strong. It isn't unreasonable for sinkspur to say, "which, I believe, has happened twice here."

Sinkspur makes clear that this is only his belief, and the tone is tentative.

I'm not sure I'd go as far as sinkspur has, here, but I'd conclude at this point that the accusations are still completely unproven, though the direct testimony of Mr. Bonneau at least gives something tangible to the accusations.

At this point, I'd conclude from the notes that though they make the accusation from Mr. Zalay PLAUSIBLE, on balance, they tend to mitigate against the accusation. The notes seem so disimilar to me that I have a hard time believing that the typed one, which actually names a bishop named Howard, is authentic. And the handwritten note, which, I assume, will likely be authenticated at some point, actually points away from the bishop.


sitetest

[johnb2004]

It should be a rainbow. More accurate.

[m4629]

am allowed to give my opinion, aren't I.

Yes, of course each one of us is here to voice our opinion granted. But yours come across looking like "a statement of fact" by the tone. I would recommend you put in "I think he is .... this and that" to avoid confusion.

People do give their Biased Opinion often times and it helps to know what positions you are taking. Just some constructive criticism here. I suspect you think Hubbard's guilty.

Here you clearly expressed a personal opinion, which is good, even tho it is unfounded, as I have remained neutral as to his Guilt to the sexual abuse charges.

I'll say this tho, how many supporters of Marijuana Legalization are not puffers themselves?

[sinkspur]

You should at least give equal benefit of the doubt to both the accused and the accusers.

Why? It's not just the age of the accusations that are bothersome, but the circumstances of the accusations, the flimsiness of the proof, and the involvement of a lawyer who has been beaten by the diocese at every turn.

Why would Aretakis involve himself in situations which have no legal implications (though, given his previous filings, I'm surprised he didn't try to file on them even though the statute of limitations has run out)? Could it be he's trying to avenge his recent losses?

If Hubbard is guilty, he has no room for maneuvering if definitive proof emerges. He will be disgraced, and many many Catholics will have been viciously deceived.

The spirited and unequivocal nature of his denials lead me to believe him.

[sinkspur]

I'll say this tho, how many supporters of Marijuana Legalization are not puffers themselves?

William F. Buckley comes to mind.

[m4629]

I'll say this tho, how many supporters of Marijuana Legalization are not puffers themselves?

William F. Buckley comes to mind.

That maybe so, but you and I really don't know about that, any more than if Slick Willie did not actually inhale. I suspect you wouldn't want to place a bet against me with the Vegas bookies on my original question tho. Relax, we are just having some fun here.