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  Hubbard, Soares Have a Sit-Down
District Attorney, Bishop Meet in Private to Discuss, Among Other Topics, Clergy Sex Abuse

By Michele Morgan Bolton
Albany Times Union [Albany NY]
March 19, 2005

ALBANY -- The leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and Albany County's new district attorney met behind closed doors for the first time this week to discuss, among other issues, clergy sex abuse.

The hourlong meeting Thursday between Bishop Howard Hubbard and District Attorney David Soares came just weeks after Soares said the possibility of convening a grand jury to explore how the diocese handled sex abuse allegations wasn't out of the question.

On Friday, Soares described the discussion as an "informational meeting," adding there was neither discussion of any potential grand jury action, "nor of anything this office is doing or going to do."

"He was very forthcoming with what the church is doing to address these issues they're facing," Soares said. "It was a good meeting."

No clergy sex abuse complaints have been filed since Soares took office in January. But the district attorney said he wants to keep the lines of communication open with the church, as well as with advocates for victims of past abuses.

"This is my community, and I have a vested interest," he said. "I want to know everything that is going on. And I always welcome the opportunity to speak with people representing my community to get a different perspective."

Ken Goldfarb, the 14-county diocese's director of communications, said Hubbard asked to meet with Soares.

"He wanted to explain the reporting protocols we have in place, the ones established in 2002" after the nationwide scandal erupted, Goldfarb said. In the last 54 years in the Albany diocese, 145 individuals who claimed they were sexually abused as minors have raised allegations against 76 priests. Twenty priests have been removed, and nine are under investigation, diocesan officials said.

Soares said Hubbard also gave him an overview of the $5.2 million Independent Mediation Assistance Program established last year by Howard Levine.

The retired Court of Appeals associate judge created the program with diocesan funding to compensate victims whose claims have been deemed credible.

Soares and Hubbard also discussed a shared interest in criminal sentencing alternatives, Goldfarb said.

Hubbard was among several high-ranking clerics asked to give a blessing at Soares' Dec. 27 swearing-in at Albany's Wilborn Temple. At that time, he described the district attorney as "a man who offers to us a new vision and fresh alternatives."