Priest Found Dead After Meeting With Bishop

A priest was found dead at his home in Watervliet two days after meeting with a Roman Catholic bishop over a letter alleging the bishop was part of a ring of homosexual priests. Police won’t say how or when the Rev. John Minkler, 57, died.

“He was very disturbed that his name was associated with this letter and he wanted to assure me that he was not its author,” Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard said.

Last week, Hubbard was accused of having abused Thomas Zalay 30 years ago. Zalay committed suicide in 1978. Hubbard has maintained he has never broken his vow of celibacy or sexually abused anyone.