Catholics rallying to Bishop Hubbard's side

Support for Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has mushroomed among Catholics in the Albany Diocese since allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him last week.

The backing began with a standing ovation by priests and employees of the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany who attended a Feb. 5 press conference where the Bishop adamantly denied the allegations.

It has blossomed into hundreds of Catholics wearing purple ribbons to signify their support, surrounding the Bishop's chair at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany with votive candles, taking advertisements in The Evangelist declaring their belief in him (see page 12), and deluging his home and his office in just a few days with more than 600 letters, as well as numerous emails, phone calls and even flower arrangements.

Grassroots movement

Kathy Menard of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany was among the first to start a grassroots effort to support the Bishop. Formerly leader of the Diocese's Renew program and currently consultant to The Evangelist's Newspapers in Education program, she quickly sought permission from her pastor, Rev. Leo O'Brien, to speak at Masses last weekend.

There, she explained her intention to take an ad in The Evangelist and "invited but not urged" fellow Catholics to sign the letter that would appear in the ad. She noted that this was her own personal campaign, not something sponsored by the parish or Diocese.

A statement she made later to local media read in part, "It is not a bishop we respect -- it is this Bishop. Each of us has our own individual reasons for this respect, based on what we know about Bishop Hubbard. Our Bishop has advocated for the poor, the sick, the elderly, the addicted, the imprisoned, the troubled....As he has stood in solidarity with so many, we now stand in solidarity with him."

Big response

"I wanted to go on record early supporting Bishop Hubbard," Dr. Menard told The Evangelist. "I believe so firmly that Bishop Hubbard is being falsely accused; I wanted others to know that I, as a member of the diocesan Church, was standing behind Bishop Hubbard."

The response was overwhelming: People lined up five or six deep to sign the letter after Mass, and many spontaneously offered to help underwrite the cost of the ad -- something Dr. Menard hadn't even mentioned. She received more than $500 in donations.

"I would have purchased an ad and put my name on it if I was the only one," Dr. Menard remarked. "But I'm gratified so many people agree."

That support, she added, is not because of the office the Bishop holds, but "because of Bishop Hubbard the person. He's honorable; he's decent. I can't imagine Bishop Hubbard being capable of the things he was accused of."

Ribbons

Purple ribbons are also being sported by Catholics around the Diocese as another form of support for the Bishop. An idea begun by St. Vincent's parishioners, the ribbons are sprouting up elsewhere, as well.

Members of St. Vincent's parish held their own press conference on Feb. 9 to publicize their ribbon-wearing campaign and Dr. Menard's efforts. One parishioner even created an email address where people can order the ribbons: [email protected].

The Pastoral Center is also offering ribbons to employees; at the Cathedral, volunteers at the food pantry made their own ribbons to wear as they worked.

"The ribbon will be a symbol that our oneness with our shepherd and brothers and sisters in the Lord is much more powerful than the forces of darkness that seem to delight in assaulting the integrity of our Bishop, and causing doubt and division in our faith community," St. Vincent's parishioner and diaconate candidate Edward Solomon wrote in an email. "I hope you will consider this action as a small way to make visible our communion with the Lord, our light and our life, and with each other and Bishop Hubbard in these times of darkness."

Lights of faith

The ribbon-wearing campaign followed a gesture of support by parishioners at the Cathedral in Albany. After celebrating morning Mass on Feb. 7, Rev. William Pape, rector, was asked by several people if they could light candles around Bishop Hubbard's chair in the sanctuary. Soon, more than 50 votive candles surrounded the chair.

"To me, it said they understood the strong connection of the 'cathedra,' the Bishop's chair, and what it represents," said Father Pape. "It was a wonderful gesture of faith, support and love."

When The Evangelist spoke with the priest on Monday, the candles were still burning, watched over by Cathedral staff. Father Pape said they burn for five days; after that, he would await his parishioners' decision on whether to replace them.

Letters and emails

Father Pape, who lives with Bishop Hubbard at the Cathedral's rectory, also noted that the stack of mail for the Bishop was already two inches thick by the weekend.

"He's been there for the people for 40 years [as a priest], and now the people are going to be there for him," the rector stated. "He has the trust, the love and the respect of Catholic people throughout the Diocese."

Bishop Hubbard's residence wasn't the only place flooded with supportive mail. At his office at the Pastoral Center, Carol Dugan, the Bishop's secretary, was overwhelmed by deliveries of letters, cards, flowers and emails.

"The emails are unbelievable. I cannot keep up with them," she told The Evangelist, pausing to answer a call from a native of the Albany Diocese who phoned from Italy to offer his support and prayers for the Bishop.

"That's how deeply people are feeling," Ms. Dugan said of the call. "The level of support has just been outstanding."

Supportive messages

Ms. Dugan noted that only ten letters out of the hundreds that have poured in have been negative.

"People are saying they support the Bishop," she said; "he's in their thoughts and prayers; they believe him completely; they're very stressed over this; they want to know what they can do to help."

She tells callers to keep on praying for their spiritual leader. As a diocesan employee, Ms. Dugan said it soothes her to hear the support of fellow Catholics for the Bishop she serves, as well.

While she was upset that Bishop Hubbard has to defend himself against unproven allegations, "it does help us all to know people care and love our Bishop as we do," she said, adding: "Bishop Hubbard's ministry speaks for itself."

(Editor's note: Staff writer Karen Dietlein contributed to this article.)

Cathedral Catholics speak out

Parishioners at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany spoke after a Mass last weekend:

* "I'm sitting here selling tickets [for a concert]. People are talking to me about the situation. One woman was in tears. Everyone I know is talking about it, and I have heard no one say, 'I believe it's true,' or 'I believe it could be true.' What I got was support. From everybody." -- Ruth Bongiovanni

* "I disagree with the Bishop on a number of issues, but the one thing I am perfectly clear on is his commitment to his faith. It seems to be blown completely out of proportion. If you know the Bishop, you don't believe it. Case closed." -- Stephanie Laffin

* "The Bishop has been doing very good work in this Diocese, and I have no reason to doubt him. I don't know what it was that prompted the people to say what they did, but I believe that it has no credibility." -- George Webb

* "I don't know whether I believe it or not. He's been very honest. I converted to Catholicism. Since my family wasn't [at the ceremony], he made a special effort to pay attention to me. He is a compassionate person and has taken an effort to not take a holier-than-thou attitude through this. That takes a lot of courage." -- Susan Harder

* "I'm not the kind of person who believes that if someone takes a vow, they would break it, regardless of what you see in the movies. I just thought it was a little outrageous, personally." -- Nathan Bateman

(2/12/04) [[In-content Ad]]