Looking back at 2002

FEBRUARY: Albany Diocese gears up for pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Toronto...Richard Barnes becomes director of New York State Catholic Conference...345 people join the Church at the annual Rite of Election in Albany...Diocese says it has successfully dealt with clergy sex abuse cases using existing policy...Tiffany windows at St. Joseph's parish, Troy, are described through music by the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

MARCH: Diocese creates panel to review its sexual abuse policy and recommend any necessary changes...Diocese offers financial aid to Catholic school students through new fund...Catholics lobby state lawmakers at Public Policy Forum in Albany...Bishop plans celebration of his silver jubilee as bishop...Bishop urges Catholics to speak out against a bill requiring Catholic employers to cover contraception.

APRIL: The Evangelist marks Bishop's 25th anniversary with a special supplement on his life and ministry...Annual Bishop's Appeal campaign begins...Diocese alters its sex abuse policy to include automatically reporting offenders to civil authorities.

MAY: St. Francis de Sales parish, Loudonville, holds "listening session" on sex abuse scandal...Bishop says today's seminaries are part of solution to abuse crisis...Diocese-wide meeting weighs future of parishes...Bishop writes letter to Catholics of the Diocese about clergy sex abuse...Bishop's Appeal donations rise...Diocese takes panel recommendations to improve sex abuse policy...Catholics praise Bishop's letter on the crisis...Bishop outlines issues to be covered at U.S. bishops' meeting in Dallas...The Evangelist debuts new design.

JUNE: Bishop supports U.S. bishops' document on dealing with clergy sexual abuse...Prayer service buoys Bishop before critical U.S. bishops' meeting in Dallas...Bishop's Appeal donations up 14 percent...At Dallas meeting, Bishop asks unsuccessfully for amendment to abuse policy...Bishop begins to implement new abuse policy in Diocese...Bishop describes "painful process" of clergy review to see which priests must be removed from ministry.

JULY: Bishop apologizes to Catholics as he removes six offending priests from ministry...Parishes struggle to heal from loss of priests...Several organizations promote buying "fair-trade" coffee...Pilgrims prepare for trip to World Youth Day, Toronto...Pilgrims from other states and countries stop in Diocese en route to World Youth Day...Diocese plans days of prayer and fasting in response to clergy abuse crisis.

AUGUST: Hispanics rejoice at canonization of Juan Diego...Pilgrims from Diocese attend World Youth Day...Bishop asks Mary's help to restore Church during abuse crisis...Bishop names committee to continue implementation of new abuse charter.

SEPTEMBER: Bishop says school choice debate needed...Sept. 11, 2001, recalled by Bishop on first anniversary of attacks...Parishes hold Episcopalian "Alpha Course" program to learn basics of Christianity...New York State bishops weigh lawsuit over passage of bill mandating contraceptive coverage by Catholic employers.

OCTOBER: Bishop advocates respect for life in a time of war and scandals...Joan Lipscomb honored with award for ecumenical efforts...Diocese continues to fulfill sex abuse charter...Catholics react to Pope's revision of Rosary...Abuse charter in effect in Diocese as Vatican studies it.

NOVEMBER: The Evangelist publishes special issue to mark Cathedral's sesquicentennial...Bishop says faith is judged by concern for poor...Bishop assesses U.S. bishops' meeting in Washington, D.C...Herkimer coalition unites to aid needy.

DECEMBER: Bishop says laypeople are called to holiness...Diocese appoints advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse...Priest founding medical school in Tanzania visits Albany Diocese.

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