Bishop Howard Hubbard Abuse
In testimony conducted over four days in April 2021, Bishop Howard Hubbard, the former leader of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., described in unusually frank terms how he moved diocesan priests who had been accused of molesting children in and out of treatment centers and back into ministry. He admitted that the transfers were consistently made without informing local police, families of abuse victims or Catholics in Albany’s parishes, where the men were reassigned.
Bishop Hubbard testified that parishioners were told that their pastors had been removed for “treatment” with no further explanation.
“That is correct,” answered the bishop, who led the diocese from 1977 until 2014, answered.
Mr. Anderson pressed further. “As a matter of practice and protocol, you as the bishop were required to keep that secret to avoid scandal and protect the reputation of the church, of the diocese, correct?” he asked.
“I think both were reasons for not disclosing fully the reason for his treatment,” Bishop Hubbard responded, after clarifying objections from his attorney.