Mercure Returns to Court for Sentencing, WNYT, February 16, 2011

Mercure Returns to Court for Sentencing

WNYT
February 16, 2011

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1976791.shtml?cat=300

[with video]

Gary Mercure

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Defrocked Catholic Priest Gary Mercure has been sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison.

Mercure was convicted last week in Pittsfield for raping two Queensbury altar boys during visits to Massachusetts in the 1980s.

Victim's testified Mercure warned of harm to the boy's families if they revealed the attacks. One victim said Mercure promised to betray secrets of the confessional booth.

A survivor's organization for victims of priestly attacks contends Mercure had even more victims than the trial revealed.

There was some investigation of his conduct in Queensbury, but because New York law does not permit prosecution of crimes from so long ago the cases were not fully pursued. Massachusetts has different rules concerning attacks committed under Mercure's circumstances.

Mercure was removed active ministry in 2008, but was technically still a priest. Earlier Wednesday Bishop Howard Hubbard issued a statement saying he is calling on the Vatican to formally remove Mercure from the priesthood.