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Man claims abuse by Catholic priest Updated: 5/19/2003 10:28 PM By: Capital News 9 web staff

Another man has stepped forward, claiming he was sexually abused by a priest and the Catholic Church covered it up.

David Leonard alleges the church hid his abuse for years, making him swear on a Bible to never tell.

Leonard also claims that Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard ordered a $6,000 exorcism of his body. Leonard claims the alleged exorcism in Little Falls, New York led to several stays in a mental hospital, depression and attempted suicide.

He said, "I'm not going to cover and I'm not going to be quiet for the crimes and the terrible evil that is in the Roman Catholic Church and bishops covering up the lies because they all know what happened, they all knew and they turned their heads."

In a written statement to Capital News 9, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany said, "Bishop Hubbard has never performed an exorcism, nor has he ever authorized nor been asked to authorize an exorcism for a victim of clergy sexual abuse."

Leonard was introduced to the media by attorney John Aretakis who represents several alleged church abuse victims. But Leonard said he has not retained a lawyer and no suit has been filed on his behalf.

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I'm sorry, but it appears to me that this particular witness is being exploited. There is no new or tangible evidence here to lend any credence in the case against Hubbard. I wish they would put up or shut up. Furthermore, there are details such as swearing on a bible (do catholics normally do this other than in court?) and the alleged exorcism doesn't sound to be on the up and up, unless a renegade priest performed some kind of informal one. It is beginning to look like Aretakis is grabbing at straws to keep this in the news.

Note that previous post is background information only as it was published in May 2003.

It is beginning to look like Aretakis is grabbing at straws to keep this in the news.

Beginning? Mr. Aretakis has consistently embraced the most incredulous of accusers. Every time his name comes up, so does the most ludicrous of stories. The only way he could become credible at this point is if Danny DeVito portrays him in the film adaptation.

Leonard also claims that Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard ordered a $6,000 exorcism of his body.

Aretakis has now resorted to bringing forth nutcases to try to keep his vendetta against Hubbard in the news, as you say.

Hubbard could not have a more unsympathetic opposition.