[Catholic Caucus] Alleged Gay Predator Bishop Sued for Sex Abuse

Church Militant ^ | August 15, 2019 | David Nuss

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] Alleged Gay Predator Bishop Sued for Sex Abuse

Bishop Howard Hubbard was believed to be gay ringleader in Albany diocese

ALBANY, N.Y. (ChurchMilitant.com) - A newly filed lawsuit accused a bishop of homosexually abusing a minor.

In the suit, a man identified only as "P.R." claims that Bp. Howard Hubbard and Fr. Paul Bondi sexually abused him in the 1990s when he was a teenager.

It states the Fr. Bondi abused P.R. while stationed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ballston Spa, New York, when P.R. was 12–15 years old. It also alleges that Bp. Hubbard abused P.R. when the boy was 16 years old.

"During the time Fr. Bondi and Bp. Hubbard were employed by the diocese, they used their positions as priests to groom and to sexually abuse plaintiff," the lawsuit alleges.

Several of the instances of alleged abuse took place at church events, and several happened in a room connected to the sacristy.

The suit is one of many that were filed in the state of New York on Wednesday, as the state has temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for claims of child sexual abuse.

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In response to the lawsuit against the bishop emeritus, the Albany diocese — now headed by Bp. Edward Scharfenberger — said in a statement Wednesday:

While this charge is extremely distressing for the diocese of Albany, the bishop emeritus is entitled to be treated in the same manner as any other priest or deacon who has been accused of abuse. ... It is critically important to remember that, like anyone else, Bp. Emeritus Hubbard enjoys the presumption of innocence, and we will withhold any judgment until all the facts are known and this case is resolved. We take all allegations seriously and pray for all who come forward with allegations.

Attorneys representing Bp. Hubbard told the media Wednesday, "We unequivocally deny all the allegations against him."

This is not the first time that Hubbard has been accused of sexual misconduct.

This is not the first time that Hubbard has been accused of sexual misconduct.Tweet

In 2004, a claim was made that Bp. Hubbard had sexually abused a male some 30 years prior. That alleged victim committed suicide in 1978 at age 25, and his brother says there was a suicide note accusing Hubbard of homosexual predation.

Hubbard was installed as bishop of Albany in 1977 and stayed in that position for 37 years. Some have argued that Hubbard wreaked havoc on the diocese and left it in shambles when he finally retired in 2014.

In the 1990s, a whistleblower priest identified Bp. Hubbard as a ringleader of homosexual clergy and theological dissidents. The priest, Fr. John Minkler, penned a letter in 1995 to Cdl. John O'Connor of the archdiocese of New York, relating allegations of widespread theological and moral corruption in the Albany diocese.

In his letter to the cardinal, Fr. Minkler wrote that an Albany physician heard stories from two different AIDS patients about "a ring of homosexual Albany priests which also included Bp. Hubbard."

Father Minkler stated elsewhere in the letter:

A permanent deacon at the cathedral in Albany where Bp. Hubbard has been residing for the last few years has seen the bishop leaving and returning very late at night, dressed in cut-off shorts and tank-tops. He states that the bishop keeps very much to himself, is very secretive, and that he feels that the bishop is living a double life. It is also his impression that, unless Bp. Hubbard has a public Mass schedule for some event, he does not celebrate Mass even privately each day.

Beyond allegations regarding Bp. Hubbard, Fr. Minkler's letter relayed the theological and moral mayhem that seized control of the Albany diocese during Hubbard's tenure.

Below are a few examples of allegations made in Fr. Minkler's letter:

• "A permanent deacon recently took a course in moral theology, only to learn from the teacher that she is a lesbian who has had herself artificially inseminated to prove that it is not necessary to have relations with a man in order to become pregnant."
• "A newly employed diocesan social worker was shocked when she was told to take a young girl from St. Anne's Institute in Albany to Planned Parenthood for an abortion."
• "A diocesan operation camp called 'Pyramid Lake' is a center for the 'New Age Movement.'"
• "Bishop Hubbard regularly takes liberties with the Mass, such as offering the bread and wine together at the Offertory, omitting the Lavabo, almost never using the miter and the crosier, using invalid matter if that is the practice in a given situation, rushing through the Consecration, etc."
• "The diocese regularly accepts and ordains seminarians who have been dropped by other dioceses because of their homosexual activity."
• "Priests and laity alike are reluctant to speak against Bp. Hubbard because he tolerates no dissent from his dissent."
• "On some occasions it has been observed by some of the clergy that Bp. Hubbard does not recite the formula of confirmation while he is administering this sacrament. There is no doubt that this would render the sacrament invalid."

In 2001, Fr. Minkler added handwritten notes to the document — including a comment that "at least 1/2 of the priests in the Albany diocese seem to be gay."

Priests and laity alike are reluctant to speak against Bp. Hubbard because he tolerates no dissent from his dissent.Tweet

Father Minkler was found dead in his home in 2004 under mysterious circumstances. It was ruled a suicide, but many people who were close to the priest suspected foul play. He had met with Bp. Hubbard a few days before his sudden death, seemingly because his name had recently been tied to the letter to the cardinal.

Slamming a "pastoral plan" that Bp. Hubbard had for the diocese, an Albany priest told The Wanderer in 1991, "Bishop Hubbard wants to create a structure where he can appeal to various types — those who want married priests, women priests, homosexual priests."

[ebb tide]

Ping

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Serious charge ALERT.

[Deo volente]

The circumstances surrounding Fr. Minkler’s sudden death always seemed strange to me. It was eventually ruled a suicide by the coroner, with no further details released to the public.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2004_01_06/2004_04_07_Bolton_PriestsDeath.htm

https://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100315

[allendale]

This criminal homosexual predator Hubbard would never ever criticize the pro abortion “Catholic” Democratic politicians. He was good buddies with Mario Cuomo. Decadent to the core.

[Ouchthatonehurt]

[Robert A Cook PE]

Gosh, my gaydar just blew up.
So, Hubbard is still in charge?

[Deo volente]

Hubbard is retired. Bishop Emeritus of the diocese, and no longer in charge. He’s 80 years old.

[Deo volente]

When Hubbard was appointed bishop in 1977 there were 629 total priests in the diocese. When he retired in 2014 there were about 235. At least 75 parishes were closed during his tenure.

Good work there, Bishop!

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dalbn.html

[Salvation]

I thought Hubbard died.

[Marchmain]

I find it hard to believe an employee of the diocese was told to take a girl for an abortion. No details, date or witnesses, follow up, etc. Why should we believe it?

[piusv]

Michael Voris came out about his homosexuality a year or two ago. He seems to focus a lot on the sex abuse by the Novus Ordo prelates. Does he ever state or even suggest that these men abuse because they are homosexual?