Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston) joined Attorney General Letitia James in Schenectady for an announcement that James will be suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany over its gross mismanagement of the St. Clare’s pension fund. The attorney general detailed how the diocese used their religious exemption that did not adequately provide enough protections for pensioners, intentionally leaving the pension plan uninsured.

Walsh first called on the Attorney General’s Office to complete a full investigation into this crisis back in 2019.

“Today is a great step in the fight for justice for St. Clare’s retirees, who selflessly dedicated their lives to bettering others,” said Walsh. “Over three and a half years ago more than 1,100 former employees of St. Clare’s Hospital of Schenectady were notified that their pension plan would be terminated through no fault of their own. Since then my colleagues and I who represent the Capital Region have held several meetings, rallies, press conferences, proposed solutions and submitted thousands of signatures calling for action - today is the day we’ve been waiting for.”

James listed the following defendants in her lawsuit: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, The St. Clare’s Corporation, Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, Joseph Pofit and Reverend David Lefort.

“Personally, as a lifelong parishioner of the Roman Catholic church, I am profoundly disappointed with decision making that came from the highest levels of the Albany diocese. We look to our church and diocese to do what is legal, just, moral and ethical. The diocese and all defendants should be held accountable for ALL debts owed to the retirees,” concluded Walsh.