Howard James Hubbard

His Excellency
 Howard J. Hubbard DD
Bishop of Albany
Province New York
Diocese Albany
Enthroned March 27, 1977
Reign ended incumbent
Predecessor Edwin B. Broderick
Orders
Ordination December 18, 1963
Consecration March 27, 1977
Personal details
Born October 31, 1938 (1938-10-31) (age 73)
Troy, New York
Nationality  American
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
Styles of
Howard Hubbard
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

Howard James Hubbard, DD (born October 31, 1938) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Bishop of Albany.

Contents

Early life and ministry

Howard Hubbard was born in Troy, New York, to Howard and Elizabeth Hubbard. He attended La Salle Institute, and entered Mater Christi Seminary in 1956. He furthered his studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers and the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. While in Rome, Hubbard was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Martin O'Connor on December 18, 1963.[1]

Upon his return to the United States, he served as associate pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Schenectady and at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. He then did his graduate studies in social services at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Episcopal career

On February 2, 1977, Hubbard was appointed Bishop of Albany by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 27 from Cardinal Terence Cooke, with Bishops Edwin B. Broderick and Edward J. Maginn serving as co-consecrators.

Appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Vatican's Secretariat for Non-Believers, he is a supporter of ecumenism. He has been a leader in pro-life efforts, suing to prevent an abortion clinic from opening in Albany and serving as president of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty.

As of 2008, Hubbard's tenure as bishop is the second-longest in the Diocese's history; the longest belonging to Edmund Gibbons, who served for 35 years.[2] Hubbard is considered to be one of the most liberal bishops in the United States.[3]

Abuse affairs

On March 19 2011, Hubbard placed three retired priests on administrative leave and removed another from the ministry after receiving allegations of child sexual abuse.[4]

Episcopal succession

Episcopal lineage
Consecrated by: Terence Cooke
Consecrator of
Bishop Date of consecration
Harry Joseph Flynn June 24, 1986

References

  1. ^ "Bishop Howard James Hubbard". Catholic Hierarchy. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bhubbard.html. Retrieved 2008-06-15. 
  2. ^ "Bishop to mark 25 years leading Diocese". The Evangelist. 2002-03-14. http://www.evangelist.org/archive/htm3/0314mass.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-19. 
  3. ^ New York Times: "Report Clears Albany Bishop In Sexual Misconduct Inquiry" June 25, 3004
  4. ^ "Retired priest removed, 3 on leave". Times Union. 2011-03-22. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Retired-priest-removed-3-on-leave-1212952.php#ixzz1HPVRmsKS. Retrieved 2011-03-23. 

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Edwin Broderick
Bishop of Albany
1977–
Incumbent