Rabbis to Honor Suspect Homo Bishop of Scandal-Ridden Albany, NY Diocese

Background on Hubbard's alleged homo exploits and the suspicious death of one of his accusers here:
Ex-Prosecutor Puts Focus on Sex Claims Against a Bishop

and payments to sex abuse claimants here:

Albany Diocese Quietly Paid Man Who Pressed Abuse Claim

Rabbis to recognize Hubbard

For 40 years, bishop has fostered Catholic-Jewish dialogue and trust

By PAUL GRONDAHL

Friday, October 12, 2007

ALBANY -- It seemed entirely natural that Bernice "Bunny" Kahn used to refer to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese as "our bishop."

It didn't matter that she was Jewish, a supporter of Jewish causes and a member of both Congregation Ohav Shalom and Temple Israel.

Kahn, who died last year, was co-chairwoman of the Jewish-Catholic Dialogue Committee, an interfaith group that has been around for nearly four decades and has enjoyed Hubbard's imprimatur.

"The reason we got started and are still going strong is because of Bishop Hubbard's support," said committee co-chairwoman Joan Dunham, a parishioner of St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Guilderland and an organizer of a workshop this Sunday focusing on Christian and Jews in dialogue.

At Sunday's event, the Capital District Board of Rabbis will honor Hubbard for his 40-year commitment to fostering the Jewish-Catholic dialogue.

The dialogue committee took root in 1986 at an interfaith prayer service entitled "From Fear to Friendship" that was led by Hubbard and drew 1,200 people to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Recalled Dunham: "Bishop Hubbard apologized for the persecution of Jews by the Catholic Church. It was so moving that people wept and it became a turning point for the dialogue in this region."

As a result, the Capital Region is considered one of the best places in the country when it comes to Jewish-Catholic relations, according to educators from across the United States with whom Dunham has corresponded.

"The only other place that might be better is Los Angeles," Dunham said ...

The Albany Roman Catholic Diocese is sending Dunham and Kathleen Duff, co-chairwomen of the dialogue committee, to the Vatican next week for a conference on Jewish-Catholic dialogue.

"That's another example of Bishop Hubbard's commitment to this issue," Dunham said.

full article:

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=629461&category=REGION&newsdate=10/12/2007