BishopAccountability.org
Albany Diocese Clears Five Priests of Abuse

By Danielle Sanzone
Troy Record
November 23, 2011

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2011/11/22/news/doc4ecc0895068fb715870880.txt

ALBANY - The Albany Roman Catholic Diocese's Sexual Misconduct Review Board has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to substantiate allegations of sexual misconduct brought by one individual against five priests, according to a statement released this afternoon.

The Review Board reached the conclusion based on the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by a former FBI Agent and supervised by a former New York State Court of Appeals judge and prosecutor, according to the statement.

The investigation was initiated last spring when an Albany County man alleged, whose name was not released, based on repressed or recovered memory that he was sexually abused as a minor in the late 1980s by the Revs. Alan Jupin, Donald Ophals, John Bertolucci and the late Louis Douglas. The individual later accused another retired priest, the Rev. Carl Urban. Fathers Jupin, Ophals and Urban, and Bertolucci all denied the allegations. Father Douglas was under medical care at the time and was unable to respond to the allegation. He has since died.

As is its policy, the Diocese promptly referred the matter to the Albany County District Attorney's office.

Fathers Jupin, Ophals and Urban are retired but before the allegation had remained active in ministry. The Albany Diocese placed them on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation. Bertolucci was permanently removed from ministry in 2002 based on unrelated sexual abuse allegations. Father Douglas died in May at the age of 82.

Contact: dsanzone@troyrecord.com


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