Diocese adds retired priest to list of credibly accused

After an extensive investigation, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany announced May 15 that it will add Father Gregory Weider, a retired priest of the Albany Diocese, to its List of Credibly Accused for “reasonable cause” related to allegations of sexual abuse against minors. Announcements will be made in the parishes where Father Weider served. (The List of Credibly Accused can be found at www.rcda.org/crediblyaccused.)

Before he was removed from public ministry in August 2021, due to a yet unresolved CVA allegation, Father Weider had been serving as a sacramental minister at Sacred Heart in Margaretville and its mission, St. Anne’s in Andes. Once he was placed on administrative leave he was no longer allowed to publicly officiate at sacraments, wear clerical garb or present himself as a priest.

Since his ordination in 1963, Father Weider, 85, has served at the following locations: Blessed Sacrament, Mohawk; St. Anthony, Schenectady; St. Agnes, Cohoes; St. Thomas the Apostle, Delmar; St. Mary’s, Coxsackie; Holy Cross, Albany; Sacred Heart, Watervliet; and Holy Trinity, Schaghticoke, which was the merger of St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Johnsonville, and St. Monica, Valley Falls. He also served as diocesan chaplain for scouting; assistant national chaplain for scouting; chaplain at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, with residence at Our Lady of Victory, and chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital, Amsterdam. He retired from full-time ministry in 2010.

The Diocese has historically cooperated with and provided notice of abuse allegations to the appropriate District Attorney’s office.

The independent Diocesan Review Board forwards all pertinent information related to an accused priest, allegations of abuse, and any investigatory reports to the Bishop, who then reviews everything before making a decision on whether to accept the board’s recommendation.

The Albany Diocese urges anyone who as a child was sexually abused by a Catholic priest or deacon to report the matter to a law enforcement agency or to the Diocese. To report an incident of abuse or to seek help, contact the Diocese’s Assistance Coordinator, Frederick Jones, at (518) 453-6646 or by email at [email protected].