Posted on 08/24/2019 1:52:33 PM PDT by Marchmain
NEW YORK - In addition to a tidal wave of clergy abuse cases that were filed as New York’s “look back” window took effect on Wednesday, this week also brought about new scrutiny for three members of the American hierarchy.
A court spokesman said that 427 new suits were filed by the close of business on Wednesday from victims taking advantage of the Child Victim’s Act, which lifts the statute of limitations for a yearlong period for abuse claims against the Church and other institutions.
By the time the window closes next August, that number is estimated to be over a thousand.
Among the cases brought on Wednesday are claims that Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard abused a minor during the 1990s. Hubbard was the head of the Diocese of Albany for 37 years and retired in 2014.
Hubbard, now 80, has denied the allegations, and in a statement on Wednesday the diocese said the charge is “extremely distressing” and that “it is critically important to remember that, like anyone else, Bishop Emeritus Hubbard enjoys the presumption of innocence, and we will withhold any judgment until all the facts are known and this case is resolved.”
The diocese also said it was following the new Vatican guidelines, Vos estis lux mundi, which Pope Francis implemented in May to offer directives on how to handle abuse cases related to bishops.
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...
In what week hasn’t this been the case with the Corporate Catholic hierarchy?
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