The jury in the Gary Mercure trial has returned a guilty verdict. He was accused of raping two boys in Berkshire County in the 1980s. Our Brandon Walker followed this trial and joined us from outside the courthouse with more on Thursday's verdict.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. --- The jury in the Gary Mercure trial has found the 62-year-old guilty of rape. After the final witness testified, closing arguments were delivered Wednesday morning.

The jury returned with a guilty verdict on all counts. Mercure was facing charges of raping two boys in Berkshire County in the 1980s.

Mercure was a priest with the Albany Diocese at the time. The two boys accused Mercure of raping them while on a trip to the Berkshires.

The defense argued the two victims were coached into making the claims, while prosecutors brought in other alleged victims to show a common theme of abuse.

Statement of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese on the Conviction of Gary Mercure

Gary Mercure’s attacks on children were sinful, criminal and reprehensible. Our hearts today are with the children who were abused, all now adults. We admire the strength and courage they demonstrated by coming forward. As devastating as their experiences must have been, they have shown by example that they are survivors — strong, resilient and powerful.

Three years ago, in 2008, the Albany Diocese received a written complaint that Mercure sexually abused minors. Upon receipt of that complaint, the Diocese promptly advised law enforcement authorities, as is its policy, and as Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan testified during the Mercure trial. When civil authorities had completed their investigation, the Diocese began its own investigation. The Diocese concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe the allegations were true, and permanently banned Mercure from ministry. He is barred from functioning as or presenting himself as a priest.

We are especially mindful of the words of Pope Benedict XVI, writing to victims of clergy sexual abuse last March, when he said: “You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated."

Prompt reporting of sexual abuse is essential to preventing it. We hope the public and news media attention on the Mercure trial will lead other individuals who were sexually abused at any time to report the abuse immediately and seek assistance.

We as a Diocese also recognize our solemn and continuing moral responsibility to ensure that children are safe in every Catholic place and to provide compassionate, meaningful assistance to any individual who was abused by a priest or deacon. The Albany Diocese will continue to meet this responsibility.

We again encourage any person who as a minor was sexually abused by an Albany Diocese priest or deacon to report the abuse as soon as possible to a law enforcement agency or to the Albany Diocese. For information or for help, please contact the Diocese’s assistance coordinator, Theresa F. Rodrigues, at (518) 453-6646 or by e-mail at assistance.coordinator@rcda.org.