Letter to the Editor
Why do Catholics continue to support poor leadership in Albany?

By James Quackenbush
Daily Gazette
July 10, 2008

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/jul/10/0710_online/?print

Back in 2004, my uncle, the Rev. John A. Minkler, was revealed as the alleged author of a letter to Cardinal John O’Connor of New York City. The letter contained details of liturgical and sexual improprieties on the part of several priests as well as the bishop of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese.

Within weeks of the aforementioned letter becoming public, an independent investigation began, which was funded by the coffers of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese. The results of the investigation, to nobody’s surprise, found no wrongdoing on the part of any priests or of Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. It also claimed that the letter allegedly written by my uncle was full of falsehoods and exaggerations, and that nothing in the letter could be proven true or accurate.

Rev. Gary Mercure was mentioned by name in the letter associated with my uncle, as a priest who was accused of inappropriate behavior. The subsequent independent investigation funded by the Albany Diocese exonerated Rev. Mercure (and others) of any wrongdoing. Four years later, Rev. Mercure has now been removed from active ministry by the Diocese and a lawsuit has been filed against him and against Bishop Hubbard. Additionally, there is now evidence in the form of inappropriate, sexually explicit photographs of the Rev. Mercure, which show that the letter my uncle allegedly wrote was not as far off as the Diocese would have us believe.

Catholics in the Albany Diocese need to wake up and see the ridiculous nature of the constant denials and failures by the leadership of the Albany Diocese. Rome doesn’t seem to listen, so maybe Albany will if we stop funding the Diocese through collection baskets on Sunday.

James Quackenbush

Rochester