Agony in Albany - The Roman Catholic Faithful

Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc. / AMDG May 2004 Albany newslettercalled “Portal” officially, but “the pretzel” by others,was erected adjacent to the Cathedral of the ImmaculateConception. It is supposed to signify the historicreconciliation between Jews and Catholics that hastaken place in Albany.Catholics such as Paul Kerin point out thatBishop Hubbard is referred to as “our Bishop” by theJewish community, and he wonders, considering thestate of the Diocese, if these ecumenical outreachesaren’t weakening the faith of Catholics.“From what I read in the Albany papers, andThe Evangelist, the Bishop spends a great deal of timein ecumenical activities with Protestants and Jews.This would be a laudable activity as long as the focusis on teaching Jews and Protestants that the Churchhas the truth.“When it’s ‘Let’s all be equals,’ and there isno effort at conversion activity or evangelical witness,it seems like a waste of time and causes a reduction ofthe Faith in the eyes of ordinary Catholics. . . .“We’re living in an apostate Church here, andour Bishop doesn’t seem willing to teach the CatholicFaith to those who most need it.”Part IXThe Bishop And His Circle“All the people in key positions are crazy . . .off the wall” – an Albany priest.When Bishop Howard Hubbard began hisreign over the Diocese in Albany in March, 1977, hewas hailed as another St. Ambrose, that Doctor of theChurch from the fourth century who is justly famousas a liturgist, as a great moral theologian , who wrotetreatises on virginity, and as a defender of the rightsof the Church. St. Ambrose insisted that the state hadthe duty to protect the Catholic Church, and he eloquentlypreached against the heretics of his time.The editor of The Evangelist stated: “BishopHoward J. Hubbard would be embarrassed to be comparedto Ambrose — or to anyone important for thatmatter, for humility is deep within his heart. But onecan hardly miss the similarities: Ambrose was chosenbecause he was upright in administration, blamelessin character, sterling in piety, tender to the poor.“These qualities belong also to the ninthBishop of Albany and explain the universal acceptance— even more the universal excitement —which has greeted his selection.”This view of the Bishop as a saint was againexpressed to readers of The Evangelist when BishopHubbard marked his 25th anniversary as a priest, inDecember, 1988.His sister’s niece, Caroline Kawola, a studentat Bishop Maginn High School, wrote: “The mostsaintly person 1 know is Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.”She revealed how “he has helped the Churchand the community in every way he sees fit,” andhow he “has the patience of a saint.”Again, “I think Bishop Hubbard is saintly forall the work, time, and effort he has put into our communitiesand churches. Bishop Hubbard is definitely aman with enough saintly qualities to go around.”She also upbraided those who criticize theBishop for closing schools, saying, “I don’t see thesepeople lending a hand in trying to keep the schoolsopen. . . .Bishop Hubbard is a remarkable man forhaving the courage to do what his line of work entails.”In the same special anniversary issue, ValerieE. Dillon (a dissenter from Humanae Vitae and a sexeducationadvocate), then president of the NationalAssociation of Catholic Diocesan Family Life Ministers,stated that Bishop Hubbard is “a good man, aholy man, and kind.”Fr. Michael Farano, then chancellor, wrotethat Bishop Hubbard “gives all that is in him to hisGod and the Son Jesus, whom he loves and serveswith a passion.”“A Nice Man”Though not ready to proclaim him a saint,even the Bishop’s most persistent critics give himvery high marks for his excellent human relationsskills.Layman Tom Coffey admits, “Bishop Hubbardhas always responded to my letters — and I’vehit him with some real haymakers. He always makesme feel ashamed of myself, he’s so kind to me. Afterwe have a meeting, before I leave, he takes my handsinto his own, looks at me with those St. Alphonsuseyes, thanks me for my concerns, and I feel bad forever questioning his leadership.”“He is very popular, and the people lovehim,” says Edward Brietenbach, who with his wifeMildred, coordinated a Marian Tour of the statue of64