|
Catholics tell Bishop of their support Mass-goers tell of their happiness over his exoneration The Evangelist sent two reporters to three parishes on Sunday, June 27, to ask Catholics what they would say to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard following his exoneration: AT CHRIST THE KING, WESTMERE * Donna Johnson: "Having gone through a time myself when I was wrongly accused of something, I remembered how I felt. I am so glad that people have been able to learn that you are innocent of the allegations. This has been a very difficult time." * Joanne Curran: "I am praying that you can find it in your heart to forgive this invasion of your privacy." * Maureen Rose Curran: "I hope you're warm in your heart and that your hands are the hands of the Lord as you try to help us all heal and believe in God's love." * Joseph Fisher: "Congratulations on learning the results of the investigation. It was thorough and very professionally done, leaving no room for doubts about your innocence." * Meghan Dawson: "I never had any question in my mind of your innocence, and I thank God that you have been exonerated." *** AT ST. TERESA OF AVILA, ALBANY * David Paige: "We've always believed in you. Your works were always so self-exemplary. The investigation was obviously fair and thorough, but we always had confidence that it would turn out that way." * Robert Callahan: "I am very pleased and happy to see that there has been no credible evidence. I admire the way you have endured all the suffering as a result of false accusations and very personal accusations." * Dianne Thomas: "This is fabulous. It is so wonderful to know that you were exonerated. You have touched everyone in our community. It is so wonderful to know that you have been truthful all along. I never lost faith in you." *** AT ST. CLARE'S, COLONIE * Dan Fritz: "You're a changed person, and you've changed all of us. These accusations should go under the same scrutiny you went under." * Alice Mills: "I feel mortified for you. I never believed [the allegations]. You are such a gentle soul. I'm thrilled you are our bishop, and I'm very sorry that this has been done to you and the Catholic Church." * Kathy Davis: "I always knew you would be exonerated. We kept you in our prayers on a daily basis. We knew you would be strong in your faith and that the people of the Diocese would continue to follow you." (Reported by Pat Pasternak and Karen Dietlein, staff writers.) (7/1/04) |