This is from the 1P5 Blog:
After 37 years of Bishop Howard Hubbard leading the Diocese of Albany, it appears that some within the interfaith community may miss him already. Earlier this year Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Edward Scharfenberger to replace Bishop Hubbard who had reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. For nearly four decades Bishop Hubbard was considered to be one of the most liberal prelates in the United States. The statistical collapse of the faith in Albany speaks to his tenure. In the last fifty years the diocese has experienced a 40% decline in parishes, a 75% decline in priests and a 91% drop in student enrollment at Catholic schools.
It appears, however, that Bishop Hubbard was always a hit at interfaith events, such as the annual Capital Region Theological Center Fall fundraising dinner. This is not the case apparently with his successor. As reported by Rev. Sam Trumbore of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany in the Times Union on October 6:
Bishop Scharfenberger’s after dinner speech…seriously missed his audience and likely ruffled a few feathers in the interfaith, largely Protestant audience of about 230 community leaders.
