Priest's death is ruled a suicide Albany (Father Minkler)

Albany Times-Union ^ | April 7, 2004 | Michee Morgan Bolton and Jordan Carleo-Evangelist

[sidewalk]

The Rev. John Minkler's death on Feb. 15 was ruled a suicide late Tuesday, bringing to a close nearly two months of fervent speculation in a Catholic diocese rocked by the clergy sex abuse scandal.

Albany County Coroner Herman Thomas declined to describe what the reports specifically showed, saying only that based on them his office had concluded there was no foul play involved in Minkler's death.

Based on the findings, Thomas said his office concluded that Minkler, 57, had taken his own life.

By law, an autopsy report can only be distributed to the victim's family or the district attorney.

Minkler's body was found by his sister on the kitchen floor of his Watervliet apartment, laying face down on a blanket.

"That's a great loss for his friends, family, and the people he worked with," said diocese spokesman Ken Goldfarb. "I'm not sure there's much more to say about it."

Goldfarb said he learned about the coroner's findings from reporters.

An unidentified bottle of prescription drugs was found by Minkler's side, along with a suicide note, neither of which have, or are likely to be, made public.

No specific cause of death was released Tuesday.

Minkler's sister, Colleen Quackenbush, refused comment Tuesday night, while his other sister, Patricia Minkler, couldn't be reached.

"We don't accept the findings of the coroner," said Phillip Kiernan, who heads the Coalition of Concerned Catholics of the Albany Diocese, a conservative group that has taken Hubbard to task for the ills of his diocese.

"I'm a traditional Catholic, but this has a smell to it," Kiernan said. "Father Minkler had heart and stomach ailments. But now I'm beginning to wonder, because this looks like a cover-up."

Prior to his death, Minkler had been linked to a 1995 letter to then-New York Archbishop John O'Connor accusing Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard of homosexual behavior and theological transgressions. That came two days after the 57-year-old priest, who was a chaplain at the Stratton VA, signed a statement for the Albany Diocese disavowing authorship of the letter.

John Aretakis, a lawyer for dozens of alleged victims of sexual abuse, called on Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne and federal prosecutors to begin a criminal investigation of the Rev. Kenneth Doyle, who he claims tricked Minkler into believing he had broken the law when he sent the alleged O'Connor letter.

Neither Clyne nor Doyle could be reached for comment.

In February, coroner Thomas said results of an autopsy could take several days pending toxicology tests. In mid-March, he said he'd received all toxicology tests but one from the Albany lab probing the unattended death.

The missing lab result was expected "soon," he said.

Since then, Thomas has said, about every two days, that results could be available "probably tomorrow."

A Times Union Freedom of Information Law request for a copy of the alleged suicide note found by the priest's body, and the complete autopsy report, was denied several weeks ago.

The only way to get acces to it now is by a court order.

The information on Minkler's death came Tuesday as a former federal prosecutor looking into allegations of sexual misconduct by Bishop Howard Hubbard said she has interviewed more than 140 priests, former priests and lay people in the past two months.

Mary Jo White, hired by the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese's Sexual Misconduct Review Board on Feb. 16, released a statement indicating that the probe 'is proceeding actively."

The statement came a few weeks after White's investigators were accused of conducting interviews at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany on March 2 without permission.

They later apologized.

White declined to say what she has turned up so far or when the final report will be completed.

"It sounds like she's doing a very thorough job," said Goldfarb. "That's what we want."

White, a partner in the 500-member firm of Debevoise & Plimpton in Manhattan, is being paid $770 an hour. Her investigation is focused on claims raised Feb. 4 by Andrew Zalay, now of California, who released his brother Thomas' 1978 suicide notes, one of which refers to a relationship with "Howard" and calls him the bishop.

Thomas Zalay died after setting himself ablaze in his parents' Myrtle Avenue home.

Two days later, Anthony Bonneau of Schenectady claimed that Hubbard paid him for sex while he was a teenage runaway living in Washington Park in the 1970s.

No evidence has surfaced to corroborate his story.

The 64-year-old Hubbard, who has led the 400,000-member diocese since 1977, has denied that he ever broke his vow of celibacy.

The diocese turned to White after Clyne declined to investigate the allegations against Hubbard because he said there was no criminal basis. She promised to take her investigation wherever it leads but will not look at misconduct claims against other priests.

White is also looking at the circumstances surrounding Minkler's death.

[sidewalk]

Priest's death deemed suicide: Watervliet resident was alleged to have penned 1995 letter condemning bishop

By: Robert Cristo , The Record 04/07/2004 (http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=236224&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=4/7/2004)

ALBANY - The February death of Watervliet resident Rev. John Minkler was labeled a suicide Tuesday by the Albany County Coroner's Office.

After more than three months of examination, autopsy results reveal that Minkler did commit suicide just days after allegations surfaced that he wrote a 1995 letter to the late Cardinal John O'Conner condemning Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard and other priests for having alleged homosexual relations.

Coroner Herman Thomas confirmed Tuesday by telephone from his home that it was a suicide, but made no official statement on the case.

Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne was also called at home Tuesday evening, but said he was not aware of the autopsy results.

Minkler was a priest at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Hospital since 1984.

Only a few days before his death, Minkler signed an affidavit stating he did not write the letter to O'Connor, which alleges that Hubbard had sexual relations with two other priests.

Hubbard has wholeheartedly denied the accusations, which have prompted the hiring (by the Albany Diocese) of former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White at more than $700 an hour to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against the bishop.

The letter also included a description of many other local priests alleged to have had homosexual relations with adults and children.

According to the diocese, Minkler asked to meet with the bishop in order to tell him personally that he was not the author of the 13-page letter.

His body was found on Feb. 16 in his Watervliet home.

Attorney John Aretakis, who represents numerous alleged victims of clergy sex abuse, is calling for the district attorney's office to investigate the circumstances leading up to Minkler's suicide

Minkler was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy and was ordained in 1972.

He served as an associate pastor at St. Joseph's in Rensselaer, St. Francis de Sales in Troy and St. Theresa's.

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[AAABEST]

[Renlea]

here is where I dont get it.

why is everyone not accepting the coroners report? it wasnt murder or foul play which is what everyone was saying all along. and if this was any normal suicide people wouldnt be asking for the note and you cant get it anyway bc of the law no matter who died!

i am saying this (dont get mad at me) bc I cant see how the coroner AND the goverment AND everyone else are in on this like i have been seeing here on fr. i am not a good conspiracy person but come on if the diocese learned about all this from reporters they are not on the ball with this.

i just cant see how everyone could be in on it and that would be what would have to happen for all of kiernans and the rcf conspiracy theories to be true. kick me me from freerepublic for saying this but i think hubbard may be getting a worse rap with this one bc i cant see how everyone or why everyone would be in on it i mean coroner thomas has nothing to gain and dont say that hes being paid off by the diocese because thats just stupid and belongs in a mystery novel not the real world.

i dont know the more i hear about this the more i dont trust concerned catholics or rcf honestly. i don't know who to trust with this one because i am obviously not trusting the church.

(news news news: they have a non denominational pentecostal protestant teaching kids jewish roots of christianity in my sisters parish. i mean i don't mind the class but why is a pentecostal teaching a catholic catechism class????)

[Desdemona]

Hmmmm...

[old and tired]

they have a non denominational pentecostal protestant teaching kids jewish roots of christianity in my sisters parish. i mean i don't mind the class but why is a pentecostal teaching a catholic catechism class????

At least the pentecostal is probably Christian. Can you say the same of her Catholic CCD teachers?

[dsc]

"i just cant see how everyone could be in on it"

Everybody wouldn't have to be. Just two or three key people, who could intimidate three or four more.

It used to be common practice that when a clergyman committed suicide, a finding of "accidental death" was always turned in, because a suicide can't be buried in consecrated ground, and because of the scandal.

Same sort of thing. Or could be. I just don't know.

I have to say, though, the whole thing stinks.

One of those times I wish I were really filthy rich.

[B Knotts]

Release the note.

Then, we'll have enough information to figure out who's telling the truth.

[sinkspur]

because a suicide can't be buried in consecrated ground,

That is no longer true.

[sinkspur]

Release the note.

Minkler's sister is free to release the contents of the note to the press.

[sinkspur]

why is everyone not accepting the coroners report?

Because they want Hubbard to be convicted of murder.

And, because FR is a haven for conspiracy theorists, of all stripes.

[m4629]

why is everyone not accepting the coroners report?

I was prepared to accept the report IF they were to play it straight, and release the cause of death.

Is this is simple case of suicide? Why did it take almost 2 months where "normal" time for a tox report is about 2 weeks?

Can you think of a good reason why the coroner chose not to release the cause of death on a straight forward suicide case? Why did he allow the cloud of suspicion to linger on?

Those who defend the coroner in this situation deserve tight scrutiny.

[dsc]

"because a suicide can't be buried in consecrated ground"
>>1That is no longer true.<<

As someone recently said on another thread, just when you think it can't get worse, it does.

[Deo volente]

"White declined to say what she has turned up so far or when the final report
will be completed. "



At $700/hour, I don't expect to see any "report" for at least the next decade or so.

[NYer]

Can you think of a good reason why the coroner chose not to release the cause of death on a straight forward suicide case? Why did he allow the cloud of suspicion to linger on?

The whole situation stinks and it has from the day the news broke!

[Deo volente]

"Coroner Herman Thomas confirmed Tuesday by telephone from his home that it was a suicide, but made no official statement on the case.
Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne was also called at home Tuesday evening, but said he was not aware of the autopsy results."



The coroner confirms suicide, by telephone from his home, and only AFTER he was called by a reporter?

And NO official statement? And the DA is not even aware of the autopsy results?
The coroner tells a REPORTER by phone, but doesn't even bother to notify the District Attorney in an extremely high-profile case?

And this, more than TWO MONTHS after Fr. Minkler's death?
When toxicology reports take, at the most, 2 or 3 weeks?
Especially since they knew exactly what drug to look for in his body, since the bottle of prescription pills was found nearby? And one can surmise that the presence of that drug would be
obvious, given the large quantity necessary to kill him.

And autopsy results WILL NOT BE RELEASED, to explain the actual cause of death?

And the contents of the "suicide" note WILL NOT BE RELEASED?


This case STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN.

[NYer]

This case STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN.

It has from the day the news broke! Fr. Minkler 'died' on Sunday; the story was 'breaking news' at 5pm on Monday. Fr. Minkler was an 'orthodox' priest. At the Albany Conference held several weeks later, Stephen Brady and Paul Likoudis described their conversations with Fr. Minkler, only hours before his body was found. How interesting that these autopsy results became 'delayed' AFTER the arrival of Mary Jo White.

[Siobhan]

With a son who is a coroner, I get his judgment on this thing. My own view would be that it does not take this long to render this kind of finding. My son says it takes this long to render this kind of finding depending on who is pulling the strings and paying the money. I no longer expect public servants to be public servants. Everyone it seems can be bought, threatened, or terrified into doing things that are contrary to their own conscience and even the salvation of their souls.

So this report, and Fr. Minkler's suicide -- the report I wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for it, and Fr. Minkler's suicide remains a myth that serves cruel men.

[Desdemona]

Part of the problem, Siobhan, is that people who don't have any experience in the inner workings of civil service take things at face value, when face value is, a lot of times, just a facade.

I suppose I've spent too much time around the people who hang out at city hall. I don't believe it either.