ALBANY, New York (LifeSiteNews) — A retired bishop of Albany, New York, under investigation by the Vatican for allegations of sexual abuse, attempted marriage after Rome refused his request to be removed from the priesthood.
Dissident, pro-LGBT Bishop Howard Hubbard, 84, went through a form of civil marriage to a woman in July. However, the legal bond is canonically invalid due to his priestly vow of celibacy, which prevents a man from marrying without a dispensation from Rome.
The current bishop of Albany, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, affirmed that the Church’s canonical laws still apply to Hubbard and do not allow him to marry, even though at present he cannot present himself publicly as a priest, due to accusations of sexual misconduct under investigation. The allegations date back to 1977 when Hubbard was first made bishop of Albany.
In a letter issued to the Diocese of Albany, Scharfenberger declared, “While he is not permitted to represent himself as a priest or perform the sacraments in public, Bishop Hubbard remains a retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church does not acknowledge his marriage as valid. He remains a retired Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church and therefore cannot enter into marriage.”
Hubbard retired in 2014 and has acknowledged that he covered up allegations of sexual abuse by priests. The retired bishop admitted that the diocese did not always notify law enforcement when allegations were made. However, he has denied accusations that he himself ever abused anyone.
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In 2022, Hubbard requested laicization from Rome, claiming that he could no longer function in priestly ministry as allegations of abuse were under investigation, a rule that Scharfenberger clarified Hubbard imposed on himself. Laicization would have allowed him to marry.
The request for laicization was denied by the Vatican in March, and seven civil lawsuits remain pending due to the abuse allegations.
In addition to covering up clerical sexual abuse, in 2011, Hubbard offered a Mass for a conference by the Catholic Association for Lesbian & Gay Ministry (CALGM). CALGM, formerly known as the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries (NACDLGM), had earned a reputation for pushing acceptance of homosexuality as an identity and opposing Catholic ministry to help individuals overcome homosexual attractions.
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