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Bishops in general and in particular slammed An ultra-conservative, self-proclaimed "watchdog group" held a public meeting in Albany Feb. 22 to discuss what its press release called "its ongoing investigation of the Albany Catholic Diocese." "Roman Catholic Faithful" is an Illinois-based lay organization led by Stephen G. Brady. The meeting attracted 300-400 people, a figure that is based on information provided by the hotel. Pro-Bishop signs displayed at the meeting, people wearing purple ribbons that have become a sign of support for him and sparse applause for the main speakers indicated that the majority of the audience backed Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. Supporting Bishop Many in the audience came with signs that read "We love and respect Bishop Hubbard," "God bless Howard Hubbard," "I support Bishop Hubbard" and "WBOB: We believe our Bishop." Mr. Brady asked those people, whom he called "cockroaches," to remove their signs from the meeting room. In an introductory address laden with stories about child abuse and homosexuality in other dioceses, Mr. Brady declared that "the bishops are the problem," "bishops have no credibility, none," "bishops don't care" and "I would have more trust in a street prostitute than any bishop." Mr. Brady shied from commenting specifically on Bishop Hubbard, saying, "I am not accusing anybody of anything." Blaming the Bishop Mr. Brady's remarks were followed by comments from Paul Likoudis, news editor of The Wanderer, an independent, ultra-conservative Catholic newspaper based in Minnesota. In the Catholic Press Association's annual directory, The Wanderer lists its nationwide circulation as 38,000; there are approximately 65 million Catholics in the U.S. Mr. Likoudis said that Father Minkler had been his anonymous source for a series of 1991 articles in The Wanderer that attacked Bishop Hubbard and the Albany Diocese. The writer said that he read his articles to the priest, who then corrected them. Mr. Likoudis did not shy from commenting on Bishop Hubbard, saying that he blamed the Bishop for Rev. John Minkler's apparent suicide on Feb. 15, that the Bishop reigns with "psychological and intellectual terror," that he has "persecuted" Catholics, that he has "brutalized" Catholics for 27 years, and that "the press, police and politicians" protect the Bishop. Mr. Likoudis also said that former Gov. Mario Cuomo and current Gov. George Pataki should call on Bishop Hubbard to resign. Statement on meeting The following statement was issued by the Albany Diocese about the public meeting held by "Roman Catholic Faithful": "Rather than engaging in a civil dialogue about critical issues facing the Church, the Illinois group, Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc., and the Minnesota newspaper, The Wanderer, have for many years waged an unfortunate campaign of character assassination against Church leaders with whom they disagree. "While their efforts at Church reform may once have been well-intended, they have long since wandered astray. For example, Roman Catholic Faithful President Stephen Brady told The Illinois Times in June 2003: 'We are in the business of destroying lives, but lives that need destroying.' "Such an approach can never be harmonized with the call of Jesus to 'love your enemies, do good to those who hate you' (Luke 6:27)." (2/26/04) |