Bishop Howard J. Hubbard

Accused in 2004 of paying a teen for sex twice in the 1970s. Denied the allegation. Hubbard commissioned an investigation to examine this charge, and other allegations of sexual misconduct with adult males. Accused of abuse of a man who died by suicide in 1978. Hubbard’s investigation found “no credible evidence.” Went on voluntary leave after accused in a lawsuit in 8/2019 of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy in the 1990s. Hubbard denied the allegation. Lawsuit filed in 9/2019 claims sex abuse by Hubbard, along with Fr. Francis Melfe and Fr. Albert DelVecchio, of a girl, during poker games in the rectory of a Schenectady parish in the late 1970s. Hubbard denied the abuse. Third suit, in 10/2019, alleged abuse with another priest of a teenage boy 1976-1978. Fourth suit in 10/2019 alleged late 1980s abuse of a boy. A suit in 8/2020 alleged abuse and rape in the mid-1970s of a boy, ages 9-11. A new suit in 3/2021 alleged abuse of boy, age 11, in 1977. By 9/2021 Hubbard had been accused in at least 7 lawsuits under the Child Victims Act. He was also accused in “dozens” of lawsuits of covering up the sexual abuse of children in the diocese. Accused in a 2022 lawsuit, along with convicted priest Gary Mercure, of sexually abusing two young brothers beginning in the mid-1980s. Hubbard allegedly abused the younger brother once, and the older brother multiple times. Hubbard denied the allegations. He requested laicization in 11/2022; it was denied by the Vatican. On 8/1/2023, at age 84, Hubbard announced that he had married a woman in a civil ceremony the previous month. He died 8/19/2023 after a massive stroke.