[Former Albany Bishop] Hubbard Asks Vatican to Remove Him from Clerical State

Times-Union ^ | 11/18/22 | Brendan J. Lyons

[marshmallow]

"I hope and pray I will live long enough to see my name cleared once and for all," Albany bishop emeritus said of the child sex abuse allegations he faces

ALBANY — Howard J. Hubbard, who served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany for 37 years, has formally asked the Vatican to permanently remove him from being a member of the clergy.

Hubbard's request comes as he is facing multiple lawsuits filed under New York's Child Victims Act that accuse him of child sexual abuse — allegations that he has denied — and of systematically shielding other priests accused of sexual abuse.

"I had hoped that in my retirement I might be able to continue to serve our community as a priest," Hubbard said in a statement released Friday. "I am not able to do so, however, because of a church policy that prohibits any priest accused of sexual abuse from functioning publicly as a priest, even if the allegations are false, as they are in my case."

The 84-year-old noted that he implemented the policy that has deprived him of "the single greatest joy of my life — serving our community as a Catholic priest in my retirement years."

But the Albany diocese released a statement Saturday, in response to Hubbard's assertions, saying they would "like to correct a point in some reports that said there is a diocesan policy that forbids an accused bishop from sacramental ministry. ... (I)n the case of Bishop Hubbard, it is he alone who voluntarily removed himself from any public celebration of sacraments."

[ebb tide]

Never too Old to Be a Fool: US Bishop (Hubbard) Wants to Marry

[Hieronymus]

I was going to ping you and make a few snide comments (not against you), however you are in at post two heaping fuel on the fire in a way much beter than I.

I believe he was the final, or close to the final, Paul VI appointee. While seemingly his twin, Clark was the first JP II appointee—who started off strong, but the chancery, which had spun out of control under Sheen, broke him.

[ebb tide]

[1Old Pro]

Howard J. Hubbard, who served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany for 37 years

Was a sexual deviant who protected other sexual deviants as they molested thousands. He and so many others ruined the Catholic church morally, ethically and monetarily. Decades ago a singer on SNL ripped the photo of the pope alluding to the crisis in the church and it was she that was excommunicated from society. Clearly she was ahead of her time.