The Roman Catholic Diocese in Albany, New York, received the unwelcome news last month that another of its priests has been accused of sexual abuse by a man who has already accused four other priests in the diocese of the same crime.
The latest priest named in the accusations, 71-year-old Carl Urban, was the longtime pastor at the Church of St. Albert in Schenectady, according to the Times Union newspaper.
The accuser, according to the newspaper story, filed a complaint last year with the Albany diocese alleging that four priests had sexually abused him in separate incidents. Some of the incidents allegedly took place at the apartment of one of the priests, while others took place at the man’s family church.
Urban has denied the allegations, according to a statement quoted by the Times Union. He has, however, been placed on administrative leave while the diocese investigates the accusations.
There is an interesting twist to this case. Apparently, the New York District Attorney’s office cannot pursue the allegations against Urban because the statute of limitations in this case has expired.
Although victims of sexual abuse can be entitled to compensation under the law, the man making the accusations against the five priests told the Times Union that he isn’t interested in monetary compensation. The man does not have his own lawyer, and has not sought any civil action in the matter.
These allegations are yet another reminder that sexual abuse allegations have become huge problems for the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.
Source: Albany Times Union, “Victim alleges fifth Catholic priest abused him in child sex case,” Brendan J. Lyons, Aug. 15, 2011
