April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CLARIFICATION
Diocese responds to abuse victim's claims
Several serious claims regarding the Diocese's response to individuals who were sexually abused by Gary Mercure were put forward March 10 at a press conference.
The Diocese's actions in this matter are clear and unambiguous, and we want to be sure you are aware of the facts.
Claim: The Diocese did nothing in response to allegations against Mercure other than issue hollow statements of concern.
Fact: It was the Diocese - not victims' advocates, not the victims' families, and not the attorneys - who first contacted law enforcement authorities to report the allegations of sexual abuse that ultimately resulted in Mercure's conviction. It was the Diocese that permanently removed Mercure from ministry. It was the Diocese that recommended to the Vatican that Mercure be laicized.
Claim: The Diocese has not provided assistance to Mercure's victims.
Fact: The Diocese has reached out to the victims' attorneys, and provided or offered assistance to each of the victims and or their representatives. The Diocese's assistance coordinator, Terry Rodrigues, attended the Mercure trial, and reached out to the Berkshire County District Attorney's office to reiterate the offer of assistance to the victims. We received a request from a victim's attorney on March 1 for assistance, and a check for the victim's full counseling fee was mailed to his therapist on March 9.
Claim: The Diocese has not apologized directly to victims.
Fact: Bishop [Howard J.] Hubbard has publicly apologized on numerous occasions to victims of clergy sexual abuse, and has extended that apology in person to any victim who has requested a meeting with him. The Bishop remains committed to meeting with victims privately if they so choose.
Claim: The Diocese did not invite Mercure's victims to a prayer service held at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury.
Fact: The Diocese's prayer service was publicized and open to the public, and anyone who was interested in attending was welcome to do so.
Claim: The Church opposes proposed legislation that would target pedophile priests and protect children.
Fact: The criminal statute of limitations for sexual abuse of minors was eliminated in New York in 2006. The current proposed legislation does not protect a single child from abuse. Its sole purpose is to encourage lawsuits, and it excludes public schools and institutions, where the majority of non-familial abuse occurs.
Claim: The Diocese is not doing enough to respond to the clergy sex abuse issue.
Fact: The Albany Diocese is committed to ensuring that Catholic places are among the safest places for children and young people.
The Albany Diocese has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse by priests or deacons. No priest or deacon whom the Diocese determines sexually abused a minor at any time is permitted to remain in ministry.
Our commitment to preventing sexual abuse includes providing age-appropriate training to children - more than 34,000 last year; conducting background checks on adults working with children in the Diocese - totaling more than 24,000 since 2002; and providing safe environment training for 27,000 adults during that time.[[In-content Ad]]
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