Posted on 08/06/2004 3:32:00 AM PDT by sidewalk
ALBANY - It will cost the Albany Diocese more than $2.4 million for attorney Mary Jo White's exhaustive investigation that found "no-merit" to sexual misconduct allegations against Bishop Howard Hubbard.
Nearly seven weeks after the former U.S. attorney cleared Hubbard on a number of sexual misconduct charges, diocese officials made public the final bill late Thursday afternoon by issuing a short statement.
Diocese officials, including Hubbard, would not comment on the hefty bill, nor discuss how it might affect the feelings of parishioners, except to say they decided to release the amount before they paid it.
"We're not going to say anything more about it (except what is in the press release)," said diocese spokesperson Kenneth Goldfarb. "Parishioners will hear and read about it in a variety of ways."
The five-paragraph statement noted that the chair of the Diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board received the bill on Wednesday from White's New York City law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.
The diocese said in the statement that it will make payment from "reserves in its self-insurance fund," which was established 25 years ago to save money and maintain stable pricing for property, casualty, liability, auto and workers' compensation coverage.
The diocese also wanted to assure parishioners that none of the $6.7 million raised in this year's Bishop's Appeal would be used to pay the bill.
Local Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) leader Mark Furnish didn't take much solace in the fact that it cost the church a bundle to clear Hubbard's name over allegations that the bishop engaged in sexual activities with a male prostitute, a male suicide victim and other priests.
"It's nice that Hubbard could spend that much money to clear his name and find closure for himself," said Furnish. "He's lucky, but there is no amount of money that could reverse all the things that happened to victims of clergy abuse (in the Albany Diocese)."
Furnish believes it is now time for the diocese to also fully disclose the attorney fees it is currently paying Mike Costello and his law firm for some 50 lawsuits involving clergy sex abuse for which Furnish estimates the firm is representing the diocese.
"They're spending a heck of a lot of money fighting claims, and nobody really knows about it," said Furnish. Furnish, who is also an attorney, would like the diocese to disclose the personnel files of clerics who had strong cases of sexual misconduct against them under Hubbard's watch.
"That way, we would know what the diocese knew about these priests and when they knew it," said Furnish. "It would cost the diocese nothing, but would be priceless for the peace of mind of victims who are also looking for some closure."
Attorney John Aretakis, who represents alleged victims of clergy sex abuse, criticized the news of the bill by saying Hubbard has "spared no expense" in a "false effort" to clear himself.
"It's a colossal rip-off to parishioners and victims due to Hubbard's self-serving, grandiose attempts to clear this embattled bishop," said Aretakis. "White's investigation was a work of fiction when it was released (in June) and the bill just demonstrates that it was a very expensive work of fiction."
Aretakis also is demanding that the diocese release the full, itemized bill, instead of the short row of cost totals in general areas.
Both Aretakis and Furnish also questioned the timing of the diocese's late-afternoon release of the bill, considering it was on a day when federal agents descended on an Albany mosque to break up a terrorist scheme of international proportions.
"It was the busiest news day in a very long time in this area, so the timing is certainly insulting to survivors and parishioners," said Furnish.
Aretakis contends the diocese did it on purpose to deflect the public's attention on a very controversial issue.
"I think Hubbard is so arrogant that he thinks that he could get away with submitting this bill on a day that it could get overlooked by other disturbing front-page news," said Aretakis.
Goldfarb would not answer any questions on the timing of the bill's release.
Lawyering has got to be the most overpaid profession on earth.
haha! this is so funny!!
aretakis complains that the diocese release the bill as soon as they get it... and they do... and then he complains that they did!
this guy should be on a sitcome!
and to think i actually believed him once!
(this doesnt mean I dont believe that there hasnt been sexual abuse i know that but at least this aretakis guy is crazy)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.