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  Diocese: Local Deacon Removed for Sexually Abusing a Minor

By Courtney Mahan
WRGB
August 29 2010

http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/diocese-1277858-removed-local.html

The Albany Diocese has permanently removed a local deacon from the ministry on grounds of sexually abusing a minor.

Bishop Howard Hubbard of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany acted on the recommendation of the Diocese’s Sexual Misconduct Review Board to permanently remove Deacon Angel Garcia.

It’s believed Garcia sexually abused a minor in the early 1990’s prior to his training and ordination as a deacon.

Garcia has served as a deacon at the Church of the Holy Family in Albany, formerly St. Patrick’s, and as a chaplain at Greene Correctional Facility.

He has been banned from officiating at any sacraments and from wearing clerical garb in public.

Garcia denies any wrongdoing, saying he will avail himself of his canonical rights.

The Albany Diocese has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse of minors by the clergy.

No priest can remain in public ministry or can be transferred into, out of, or within the Albany Diocese if reasonable grounds have been found to believe a minor has been sexually abused.

The Diocese is urging anyone who as a child was abused by a Catholic priest or deacon to contact law enforcement.

 
 

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