BishopAccountability.org
	Diocese on Defense, over Action in Abuse Allegations WNYT February 14, 2011 http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1973587.shtml?cat=300 [with video] Days before a priest from the Capital Region is sentenced for the rape of two boys, the Albany Catholic Diocese is on the defensive, following accusations that it knew about Gary Mercure's abuse of children, but did not act to stop it. Mercure was convicted in a Berkshire County Court last week of raping two alter boys who are now grown men and testified at trial. Now, advocates against clergy abuse say the Diocese should admit what it knew about Gary Mercure. They say the Diocese had knowledge of sexual abuse, but didn't act to protect children. "I honestly think that Bishop Hubbard and the Diocese has criminal culpability in the rape of some children that has occurred," said John Aretakis, victim advocate. Coming just two days before defrocked, priest Gary Mercure will be sentenced in Berkshire County for the rape of two boys decades ago. These advocates say this letter proves that the Diocese knew more than 10 years ago that Mercure was abusing boys, but did not act immediately to remove him from the priesthood. The letter is from a former Queensbury resident, Tiny Weber, whose two brothers testified at trial that they were abused as children by Mercure—-two men who were not part of the criminal case. She writes to an attorney at the Diocese in 2008 that, “My mother informed the reverend Louis Deimeke in or about the year 2000," - referring to the abuse. He was chairman of the priest personnel board. Monday the Diocese responded in a statement, saying: "In 2000, the Diocese investigated a third party report of possible misconduct by Mercure. When the Diocese sought additional information, and followed up with the person who made the original report, it was advised that the individual who had expressed the concern was not willing to follow through with the complaint. The Diocese called in Mercure and questioned him. He denied the allegation." "They have known about these facts for a long time and I say that it's time as I said before for the Bishop to atone which is a word that the Catholicism uses frequently. And that's what the Bishop needs to do: atone and act instead of reacting," said Mike Flynn, an alleged victim of clergy sex abuse. The Diocese says it notified law enforcement of the sexual abuse in 2008 and removed Mercure from the ministry. Last week he was convicted of raping two alter boys in Berkshire County, and faces up to life in prison at sentencing on Wednesday.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.