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ALBANY
Diocese removes 1 priest, puts 3 on leave
BY JASON SUBIK Gazette Reporter

    The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany Saturday announced actions taken against four retired priests, including one who formerly served in Schenectady, each accused of sexual abuse of children.
    Bishop Howard Hubbard has ordered three retired priests — the Revs. Alan Jupin, Donald Ophals and Louis Douglas — be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation from the Diocesan Review Board. The fourth priest, the Rev. Robert Purcell, was ordered removed from the ministry.
    Purcell, 76, is the retired pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Margaretville, Delaware County. Hubbard ordered him removed from the ministry after allegations were made that he was involved in an incident in 1957, 17 years before he was ordained as a priest. Diocese officials said the allegation of sexual abuse was forwarded to the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, which did not pursue a criminal case against Purcell. The Diocese’s Sexual Misconduct Review Board investigated the allegation and concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe the abuse happened. Purcell has denied the allegation.
    Jupin, 73, is the retired pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Schenectady and Ophals, 77, is the retired pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Troy. Douglas, 82, retired from St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Albany in 1992.
    Church officials said Jupin and Ophals have both remained active in ministry after their retirement but Douglas is under medical care in a nursing facility and is unable to respond to allegations.
    Jupin, Ophals and Douglas are all accused of sexually abusing a child in Albany between 1986 and 1991, along with a fourth priest, John Bertolucci. Bertolucci was removed from ministry in 2002 after unrelated sexual abuse allegations. All four men have denied the allegations.
    While on administrative leave, Jupin, Ophals and Douglas will not be permitted to act as priests, celebrate Mass or other sacraments publicly or wear the clerical garb.
    Church officials said the Albany County District Attorney’s office has informed the Diocese that it will not pursue criminal charges against the men. .....................>>>>....................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01104&AppName=1

ALLEGATIONS made 17 years BEFORE Purcell was a Priest?

Douglas is under medical care in a nursing facility and is unable to respond to allegations.


Great way to impune 2 fine Catholic gentlemen. One can't respond, the other had nothing to do with his period of Catholic service.

Nice job Mr Hubbard.  How's your retirement plans coming?

I think HJH is doomed no matter what he does.  If he acts, people complain.  If he doesn't, they say he is not responding.  

Actually his retirement plans are coming along so I heard at the diocese on Wednesday.  But I am very concerned that the next Bishop will undo all the good work HJH has done.

I saw John Bertolucci last June.  His removal was stunning to me.  An excellent priest in so many ways.  What a shame.  It was my understanding that Don Ophals was cleared.  Lou Douglas is in no way able to respond.  Some say they are not surprised.  Al Jupin's dismissal was a bit of shock too.  He was very important to lots of Siena College students.  He was an activist priest.  There are still several who have not been charged that I would have thought were walking ads for abuse.

Jupin isn't exactly "Mr Clean".  Maybe instead of accusing people that can't defend themselves, HJH should investigate Jupin's time at St. John the Baptist back in the 70's and 80's - with his "helper" Alan S. ... and the recruits from there.

Is AS the guy I know from St. Helen's?  Used to hang out with Dick H. and Bert F?

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Is AS the guy I know from St. Helen's?  Used to hang out with Dick H. and Bert F?

I'm not sure where he went after he left SJB .. but probably.

Was he a teacher?  He was on the Jewish Catholic Dialogue committee.  A bit of an odd duck.  On the other hand Dick H. is like he is totally removed from anything that might be a bit dirty.  When I used to "hang out at SJB" Jim Murphy was the priest there.  In fact Murphy married Paolino and his wife and JP ws ver nervous that a fight would break out between Murphy and JP's brother who was a West Point grad and in service.  That must have been in 1968.