Priest barred from ministry

The Rev. Gary Mercure has been permanently removed from ministry after diocesan officials determined there were reasonable grounds to believe he sexually abused a minor more than 20 years ago, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has announced.

Mercure’s removal was declared in a letter from Bishop Hubbard that was read at weekend Masses in the parishes where he served:  Sacred Heart and St. William parishes in Troy; St. Mary’s in Clinton Heights; St. Mary’s in Glens Falls; Our Lady of Annunciation in Queensbury; St. Teresa of Avila in Albany; and Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham.

The removal was based on alleged misconduct with a minor which occurred at St. Teresa of Avila, where Mercure, 60, served from 1978 to 1982.

Since 1950, the Albany Diocese has removed 22 priests from ministry after finding reasonable grounds that they sexually abused minors.

Upsetting news

Read at the end of the Masses, the bishop’s letter was preceded with a warning for those who wished to avoid hearing potentially disturbing material. The letter was received by some listeners with a mix of weary welcome, exasperation and sorrow. At St. Teresa of Avila, for instance, some families ushered their children out before the letter was read. Afterward, parishioners huddled to share their reactions.

As a result of the removal, Mercure cannot function publicly as a priest. He can neither celebrate Mass nor perform any other sacraments in public, and cannot wear clerical garb.

Bishop Hubbard acted on the recommendation of the Diocese’s Sexual Misconduct Review Board, which was created in 1993 and consists of six lay people and two clergy members.

Mercure has been on administrative leave since January when the Diocese received a complaint alleging that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor in the mid-1980s.  Subsequently, other people made similar allegations. All were turned over to law enforcement; some are still being investigated.

No tolerance

The Albany Diocese has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse of minors by clergy, in keeping with the national policy of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Albany Diocese has urged anyone who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest or deacon to report the matter to a law enforcement agency or to the Diocese. To do so, contact the Diocese’s assistance coordinator, Theresa F. Rodrigues, at (518) 453-6646 or by e-mail at [email protected].

(08/21/08)