In a deposition taken last year, former Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard admitted that he concealed allegations of the sexual abuse of children because he wanted to protect the Catholic Church from scandal and protect the priesthood.
Former Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard was questioned last April by attorneys representing people who claim they were sexually abused by priests in the Albany Diocese. The deposition that Hubbard gave under oath was made public on March 25, 2022.
Between 1977 and 2002, Hubbard said he received reports about 11 priests who were accused of sexually assaulting children.
When asked why he did not contact the police, Hubbard answered, “Because I am not a mandated reporter.”
He says he wanted to avoid scandal and out of respect for the priesthood. Hubbard has also faced allegations of sexually abusing children but denies it ever happened. He retired in 2014.
He wrote a letter to the Times Union last August, admitting that the church had failed to fully understand the impacts on victims and survivors.
Based on that letter, a request was filed to release his sworn deposition.
The 680-page deposition transcript contains an unprecedented admission of a Catholic bishop who knew about the sexual abuse of minors and chose to cover it up.
