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	Father Mercure Target of More Sexual Abuse Allegations North Country Gazette January 29, 2008 http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2008/01/29/more_mercure_allegations/ QUEENSBURY—More accusations of sexual abuse by a priest allegedly occurring more than a quarter century ago when he was assigned to churches in Queensbury and Glens Falls surfaced this week when four more men pointed their fingers. The Rev. Gary Mercure who currently serves as the pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Williams Churches in Troy was placed on a paid leave of absence earlier this month when allegations of sexual misconduct involving a teenage boy were made when Mercure served as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish in Queensbury during the 1980s. Four more men came forward this week to accuse Mercure of sexual misconduct more than 25 years ago. During a news conference conducted by SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, Michael Flynn of Clifton Park and Lake George, accused Mercure of engaging in sexual misconduct when Mercure was assigned to St. Teresa of Avila Church of Albany during the 1970s as did another man who did not want to be identified. Two other men who said they wished to remain anonymous also claimed they were abused by Mercure, staying the abuse started when they were 8 years old and continuing until they were 14 or 15. One of the men, now 35, claims that Mercure raped him when he was vacation with the alleged victim's family in South Carolina. Ken Goldfarb, communications director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, issued a statement that said "On Jan. 19, the Diocese of Albany announced one formal allegation of sexual abuse of a minor made against Fr. Gary Mercure and the leave of absence granted to him pending an investigation. Late last week, after the Diocese issued the announcement, other telephone contacts were made with the Diocese regarding further possible allegations of abuse. Though no additional formal complaints have been received thus far, the Diocese is following up on these contacts. Every such complaint filed with the Diocese is taken seriously and is investigated. "The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany encourages anyone who as a minor was sexually abused by Albany Diocese clergy to report the incident to law enforcement authorities or the Albany Diocese so that the allegation can be investigated and so that the Diocese can provide assistance to the victim. Theresa Rodrigues, the Diocesan Assistance Coordinator, can be reached at (518) 453-6646 or at assistance.coordinator@rcda.org. It is the policy of the Albany Diocese to investigate thoroughly any report of clergy sexual misconduct", Goldfarb said. In addition Our Lady Of Annunciation Church in Queensbury, Mercure, who was ordained in 1975, previously served St. Mary's Church in Glens Falls, St. Mary's in Clinton Heights, Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham and St. Teresa of Avila. Mercure had served St. Mary's and the Queensbury church for about 12 years until leaving St. Mary's in 1995 for "health reasons", having left the Queensbury church previously. "The Diocese has a zero tolerance policy for clergy sex abuse", Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany said in a statement. He said that all parishes that Mercure has served during his 33 years in the priesthood have been notified. Once the investigation is completed by a Sexual Misconduct Review Board, Hubbard will decide if any action should be taken against Mercure. The board is comprised of both clergy and lay people. It is expected their review will take months. 1-29-08
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