Local Diocese Takes Action against Four Persists Accused of Sexual Abuse, WTEN, March 20, 2011

Local Diocese Takes Action against Four Persists Accused of Sexual Abuse

WTEN
March 19, 2011

http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=14284917

[with video]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany said it's taking action against four retired local priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children.

According to the diocese, the four reverends', 73 year-old-Reverend Alan Jupin from the our Lady of Fatima Parish in Schenectady, 76-year-old Reverend Robert Purcell of the Sacred Heart Parish in Margeretville, 77-year-old Reverend Donald Ophals of the Saint Francis De Sales Parish in Troy, and 82- year-old Reverend Louis Douglas of the Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Albany, cases date back to the late 80's and 90's.

This comes little more than a month after former Queensbury Priest Gary Mercure was convicted of raping two boys back in the late 80's.

"The diocese is trying to protect their assets," said a local victim of Mercure's, who took the stand to testify at his trial and asked not to be identified, "This comes down to a money issue with the diocese of Albany, this doesn't comedown to a let's do the right thing."

As soon as they were made aware, the diocese said they turned all their information over to the Albany County District Attorney, who has decided not to pursue criminal charges.

News 10 reached out to the Albany Diocese for a comment and in a statement they tell us:

"The Albany Diocese has a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse of children by clerics. Any priest or deacon against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is substantiated at any time is removed from ministry."

However, Mercure's victim said he's heard it all before, and it's too little too late.

"To do this now absolutely sounds like a political statement and playing politics than it is about doing the right thing," said the victim.

While all four of these priests, now in their 70s and 80s and retired from the ministry, three of them remain active at their parishes. But as the diocese investigates these allegations, they've all been placed on administrative leave.