The Albany Diocese insists that the allegation of sexual abuse made against Fr. Gary Mercure in the 1990's was not abuse; rather, they claim it was an act of consensual sex. After all, John Watkins was an adult when he and Fr. Mercure were "involved." Nothing could be further from the truth! Any psychologist worth his/her salt would say that John Watkins was as much a victim of sexual abuse as were the children Mercure allegedly molested throughout his priesthood. After all, Watkins approached Mercure as a "member of the flock" looking for "help" regarding his sexual abuse as a child. Instead of providing "counsel" and consolation for his "client," Mercure used Watkins' vulnerability to sexually abuse him. What happened to John Watkins was sexual abuse, not a consensual homosexual relationship. From the moment Mercure allowed sexuality to interfere in his role as "compassionate counselor," he became an abuser!

The fact of the matter is: the Albany Diocese knows this! They know Mercure overstepped his boundaries. They know it was Mercure who should have been reported to law enforcement. If a psychologist or psychiatrist had done what Mercure did, they would have lost their license to practice and probably gone to jail. Why not Mercure? Because priest abusers have been coddled, covered-up, and shielded from any accountability. Perhaps if Bishop Hubbard had done the right thing in the early 1990's, many childhood victims of Gary Mercure would have been spared.

Rev. Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.