Pedophile Priest's Past Surfaces

CBS 6
October 14, 2013

http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/features/featured/stories/pedophile-priests-past-surfaces-2157.shtml

[with video]

The disturbing details of accusations against former Albany Diocese Priest Gary Mercure have been unsealed by the diocese. A Vermont attorney representing one alleged victim of Mercure, in a civil case against the former priest and the Albany Diocese, has successful encouraged a judge to have documents of the accusers revealed. The 88 pages of accusations are redacted with the alleged victims name's gone. Mercure, a former priest in Queensbury, Glens Falls, and Albany is currently serving a 25 year sentence, in a Massachusetts, for raping two boys on a ski trip to the Berkshires. Several other alleged victims came forward claiming they were abused in New York State however because of the statute of limitations Mercure can no longer be charged for those accusations. According to the documents Mercure would steal money fro the parish he was serving at and lavish young boys with gifts to gain their trust. Large amounts of cash, which he would give the alleged victims, was kept in his dresser drawer, according to victim's statements. One alleged victim said the former priest sexually abused him and asked him to keep the priests pornography at his house so it wouldn't be found at the rectory, documents state. Another accuser, according to the documents, stated he was fondled by Mercure in the priests bedroom at the rectory of St. Teresa of Avila. A statement from a former employee at the parish said there was a "constant procession of young boys" going to his room. In those same documents the former employees brother gave a statement saying he too was abused by Mercure, a family friend. The documents show the alleged abuse dates back to the 1970s however diocese officials were not made aware of the allegations until the mid 1990's, after someone Mercure was allegedly having an affair with told them. When the diocese was made aware of the allegations Mercure was sent to a hospital, in Pennsylvania, for therapy. Documents state after promising Bishop Howard Hubbard he'd stay celibate Mercure was allowed back in the diocese. It wasn't until 2008 when the first of the victims came forward. According to the documents at that time Bishop Hubbard did his own investigation and even traced Mercure to a known gay resort in Key West Florida where he was on vacation. According to the documents the resort's policy was "where the choice to wear something or nothing is yours". Documents state in 2008 when Mercure came back to Albany authorities were made aware of the allegations and he was no longer part of the diocese.