NEW YORK
Albany Times Union
By Brendan J. Lyons
Updated 07:28 a.m., Monday, March 5, 2012
ALBANY -— Fourteen district attorneys whose counties are within the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese have called on Bishop Howard J. Hubbard to reshape the diocese’s handling of sexual abuse complaints against clergy and other employees.
Citing “concerns about how these cases are being handled,” the district attorneys all signed a proposed memorandum of understanding that was presented to Hubbard early last month. Hubbard, who has been bishop since 1977, signed the document Friday, a day after the Times Union asked the diocese questions about it. He declined a request for an interview.
The district attorneys signed the memorandum in alphabetical order of their counties, which include the greater Capital Region and an area covering dozens of churches and Catholic schools from Delaware to Washington counties.
The memorandum was shown to the Times Union by two people not authorized to comment publicly. It marks the second time since 2002 that the district attorneys have banded together and privately raised questions about the diocese’s handling of sexual abuse cases, including whether church leaders had once systematically shielded accused priests from law enforcement scrutiny.
In the letter to Hubbard, the district attorneys said the diocese’s current practice is problematic because church officials screen people who come forward with allegations of sexual abuse before law enforcement officials are notified. The victims are also required to fill out detailed forms about the abuse and the effect it has had on them, and to sign waivers giving the church access to their medical records.
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