BishopAccountability.org
	New Allegations of Sexual Abuse at the Hands of Three Local Priests WTEN March 21, 2011 http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=14293395 [with video] After the Albany Catholic Diocese placed former priests on leave because of sexual abuse allegations, new allegations of sexual abuse came to light on Monday. It is unclear who the victim making these new claims of sexual abuse is but John Aretakis and some survivors of clergy abuse believe he is the same 33-year-old local man who came to them for support. They said the man then took his allegations to the diocese and claimed he was sexually abused as a child by the three local priests. In a press release this Saturday, the diocese released the names of the priests who've been placed on administrative leave: 73 year-old-Reverend Alan Jupin from the our Lady of Fatima Parish in Schenectady, 77-year-old Reverend Donald Ophals of the Saint Francis De Sales Parish in Troy, and 82- year-old Reverend Louis Douglas of the Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Albany This weekend, Bishop Howard Hubbard took action by placing the now retired priests on administrative leave but it's not the first time the men have faced these accusations. All were accused back in 2003 by another local man. However, a review board with the dioceses investigated and found no basis for his claims. "It's almost like there is a network here," said Mark Lyman, of the survivors network of those abused by priests (SNAP). "There are two victims who have been abused by the same priests. That's very scary." Ken Goldfarb, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany told News 10 that he cannot confirm if the accuser in this case is the same man who came forward to Aretakis and SNAP He said, however, that the Diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board will review the accusations and present their findings to Bishop Howard Hubbard. No criminal charges can be brought forward due to a statute of limitations.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.