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Bishop's backers 'thrilled,' 'ecstatic' over vindication The Evangelist asked people who publicly supported Bishop Hubbard when he was accused in February to share their reactions to his exoneration last week: "I was elated when the report was made. It was exactly as I had expected. "For someone who has gone through what he has gone through -- which has been a most difficult experience -- he has kept a remarkable serenity and peacefulness. I am not suggesting in any way that he did not feel enormous stress. Given all that he went through, I cannot imagine anyone going through it with as much grace and dignity as he did. Thanks be to God, he came out the other end of it in good spirits and a healthy frame of mind. "It seems to me that Bishop Hubbard has given a pretty strong signal about the best way to handle these horrible attacks. He's carrying on admirably and heroically with his daily round of activities, and continues to give himself as he always does in full measure to the people he serves. When you think he did that carrying such enormous burdens, it's a tribute to his strength and faith. He ascribes that ability to the prayer and support of his people. "I hope that what the community has been through will not be repeated in anybody's lifetime. It's very easy to make an allegation, but it has so much cost and can put a tremendous burden on those who are accused. "I am sure that his steadfastness is a tremendous encouragement to the whole community. [Albany] is a wonderful diocese: with enormous faith, good spirit and abilities. With his leadership, [Albany] will carry on with life and build up the Kingdom." -- Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester *** "I'm absolutely thrilled -- not only for the Bishop, but for the people in the Church, in the Diocese of Albany. It doesn't come as any surprise; I was just waiting to see how long it was going to take before it was resolved. I work closely with Howard, and I don't doubt his integrity. "[Having also been falsely accused,] you hate to tell somebody you know what they're going through, but [I do]....You try to walk with a sense of integrity. I went through that for eight months; it's a heavy burden to carry. People believe in you, but you don't want that weight on you. "[Bishop Hubbard] can stand in front of people with all the integrity he's always had. It's possible to recover. We can't do it without faith, without friends, without -- I don't mean this glibly -- but without putting a little bit of humor in each day. It doesn't mean it's over now, but you put it behind you. "[Being vindicated] is just a relief; it's like, `Thank God.' You're just grateful, but it's not a sense of euphoria. You've been carrying this in your heart, reading about it every day, hearing terrible things on television; that doesn't just get turned around. But with faith and friends, you can [recover]." -- Sister Ann Bryan Smollin, CSJ, executive director of diocesan Counseling for Laity Office (and onetime subject of false allegations) *** "I'm thrilled, but not at all surprised. All along, I have believed [Bishop Hubbard's] denial of these allegations; I've joined with several other people of the interfaith community to support him. I've known Howard Hubbard since the middle '60s. We've worked together on many projects in the interfaith community, and I know him to be a man of his word. I'm sure my feeling would be shared by my colleagues in the interfaith community. "The media coverage has tended to focus on how much [the investigation] costs....I appreciated what Ms. White said about the independence of a responsible investigation. [With] everybody who is being investigated, questions are going to be raised: `Is this independent?' She has shown a spirit and a procedure that certainly speaks to being independent. "In our culture today, stories like this are often media-driven. I don't think that's responsible journalism -- to continue to hammer away at stories based on allegations that have been proven to be without merit. I hope we move on to deal with the substantive issues of faith and our culture. Ms. White said we need to deal with the issue of [actual] sexual abuse; that's true. "Those of us who have supported Bishop Hubbard are deeply and emotionally moved by this report, but we all need to get on with our work." -- Rev. Robert Lamar, Presbyterian minister and past executive director of ecumenical Capital Area Council of Churches *** "We're very pleased with the results. It's certainly something we already knew. We're very glad that Mary Jo White, through her investigation, was able to prove it. We're very glad the investigation was so thorough. We have the best bishop in the world. Generally, the feeling [in the parish] is the same feeling I expressed: We know our Bishop; we're glad this investigation is completed and is so thorough, and the results are very, very clear. "We will move on, and there will be more healing going on, and I think the strengths of our Bishop are even more evident now than they were before." -- Rev. Dominic Ingemie, chair of Albany Diocese's Priestly Life and Ministry Council, and pastor of St. James parish, Albany *** "We are not only thrilled, we are ecstatic, both for Bishop Hubbard and the Catholic Church in Albany. I have been concerned about how much he must have suffered, having so much of his personal life intruded upon. Bishop Hubbard is a gentle, faithful, prophetic and spiritual man with whom we have all agonized during this time. "Such personal attacks as we have seen against Bishop Hubbard are, I believe, demonic and unhealthy for everyone. I've seen the toll that this has taken on him, and I hope that the Church will give him the needed space to retreat and play, so he can heal." -- Bishop Susan M. Morrison, bishop of the Albany Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church *** "I was very pleased with the thoroughness of the report, that the report was well done, and that Bishop Hubbard has been exonerated of all charges. Hopefully, this will be able to be put to rest. "We feel gratitude and a hope for the future that the continued healing of all who have been involved in this crisis will be able to continue. "For the last two years, we certainly were in great solidarity with all who have been suffering with this. This has certainly been a stressful time. We will be supportive and hopeful for the future of our Diocese and all the good works that Bishop Hubbard leads us in. He is a wonderful pastoral leader to the Diocese. His ability to lead us at a time of personal cost was exemplary for all of us." -- Sister Lauren Van Dermark, CSJ, provincial director for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (Contributing to this article were Kate Blain, assistant editor, and staff writers Pat Pasternak and Karen Dietlein.) (7/1/04) |