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  Unanswered Questions about Priest's Death

Fox 23 [Albany NY]
Downloaded February 19, 2004

Still no word tonight on autopsy results on the body of father John Minkler. And we're told the public may *never know how he died or exactly what written words he left behind.

Callers to the Paul Vandenburgh show on WROW Radio have a lot to say about what's going on in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.“I'm very concerned about the bishop, and I have no doubt as to what he is," said one caller. "I think there'll be more people who'll come forward," said another caller. Vandenburgh said, "That's what happens in a case like this." Another caller said, "My own viewpoint of it is he has to go." The sentiments differ, but there is a common thread. "The people in this area are really upset about this and are really demanding more information, which I don't know has been made available to them," said Vandenburgh. And some information may never be made available including the note found with Father John Minkler's body Sunday in his Watervliet home. Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne said in a statement today: "Until the coroner classifies the death the matter is under investigation, and consequently there will be no public disclosure of any of the circumstances surrounding Father Minkler's death. If the coroner classifies his death as a suicide it is a private matter, and if there were to be any public disclosures they would be made by the family and not by public authorities."

Bob Freeman of the state's committee on open government says that statement flies in the face of the New York State Freedom of Information Law. "I don't know the content of these records, but the suggestion that they can be withheld in their entirety until a particular event occurs in my opinion is inconsistent with the direction offered by the state's highest court," said Freeman. Freeman and other legal experts say the law is more clear cut on autopsy results. The County coroner is only required to release that information to the D.A. and family members. Members of the public and news organizations can attempt to obtain records like the note found with Father Minkler's body by filing a request under the freedom of information act. Also tonight we have learned that a Catholic watchdog group called Roman Catholic Faithful has scheduled a public meeting here in Albany this weekend to discuss what is happening in the Diocese.