HOLLIDAYSBURG (PA)
Centre Daily
Associated Press
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. - Bishop Emeritus James J. Hogan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown died Monday.
Hogan was 93 and died at Garvey Manor Nursing Home in Hollidaysburg, the diocese said.
"As we recall his memory, we remember the 21 plus years that he guided this diocese. They were times of transition and challenge. He met them with faith, gentleness, humility and hope," Bishop Joseph V. Adamec said in a statement.
Hogan and the diocese were found liable by a Blair County jury in 1994 for the actions of a priest accused of molesting a child. The jury found the diocese and Hogan had known the priest "had a propensity for pedophiliac behavior" and were negligent in retaining him as a priest and supervising his activities.
The jury found that Francis Luddy molested Michael Hutchison Jr. in 1983 and 1984. Luddy was Hutchison's godfather and parish priest. At trial, Luddy denied molesting Hutchison, but admitted molesting other boys. He has since been defrocked.