Former Bishop of Buffalo, Richard Malone, concelebrated Easter liturgies at the Buffalo cathedral. While other bishops around the world are facing life-long banishments from their dioceses for repeatedly turning a blind eye to accusations of sexual misconduct against priests, Bishop Malone appears to face no such consequences. Clergy sexual abuse survivors understandably interpret this as the Church consenting to Bishop Malone’s grave malfeasance. That is not a small point.
Author: Jennifer Kane
Complicit laypeople in the clergy sexual abuse crisis are for real
"Are lay people still so blindly accepting of anything told them by a bishop, even when it is manifestly extremely suspicious if not patently false?" Answer: Yes. An example revealed in a recent article will blow your mind. [Click title link above to read all about it]
A call for accountability: Bishop Grosz faces another Vos estis report under 3rd-party bishop reporting system
As a corroborating witness to Bishop Edward Grosz's deliberate coverup of an allegation of clergy sexual abuse, I recently filed a report to the Vatican using an official online reporting system in place. Allegations of his abuse of authority, punctuated by blackmailing the victim, grabbed national and international media attention. While our Buffalo bishop appears numb to this case, a particular arm of the Vatican is mandated by the pope to investigate such “Vos estis” reports. I'll walk you through the reporting process. [Click title to read more]
Clergy sex abuse attorney: The transcript of Albany Bishop Hubbard’s testimony…will be read with horror by the public.
Guess who is helping the former Albany bishop spin his catastrophic failure to protect children. Former Buffalo diocese’s spokesman, Kevin Keenan. You can’t make this up. Sick… From the Albany Times Union: “A former Upstate New York bishop testified under oath last year that he and the diocese systematically concealed incidents of child sexual abuse… Continue reading Clergy sex abuse attorney: The transcript of Albany Bishop Hubbard’s testimony…will be read with horror by the public.
Violation of public trust: Bishop Grosz’s ‘suspension’ mere ‘lip service,’ say outraged clergy sexual abuse survivors
Edward Grosz (left) Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus in the Diocese of Buffalo, concelebrates a funeral Mass on March 7, 2022 while under a very public suspension from engaging in priestly/episcopal ministry, pending a Church investigation into allegations of sexually abusing a minor. Clergy sexual abuse survivors express outrage at Bishop Fisher's tone-deaf public coddling of Grosz. Whistleblower, Siobhan O'Connor weighs in.
Revisiting Good Samaritan parable: Heartless reaction among diocese’s clergy to survivors of clergy sexual abuse
In a stunning set of recent communications to clergy sexual abuse survivors, a Diocese of Buffalo priest reveals a disturbing culture Jesus warned us about in his parable of the Good Samaritan. Diocesan whistleblower, Siobhan O’Connor, weighs in.
Survivors group rebukes Bishop Fisher for treating whistleblower as “enemy” in mass mailing to every cleric and most nuns and lay advisors in Diocese of Buffalo
Two years after whistleblower Rev. Ryszard Biernat’s removal from active ministry, survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo sent a stern message to every single bishop, priest, deacon, and most lay advisors and nuns in the diocese: “Renewal” is a farce if diocesan officials who covered up clergy sexual abuse reports are not held accountable while they hold Father Biernat accountable for exposing such “foul deeds.”
Clericalism: when laity are held accountable and clergy are not
The NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks recently fired top-tier officials for ignoring a rookie hockey player’s report of sexual assault by a coach years ago. This man’s heartbreaking story is no different from Rev. Ryszard Biernat’s in the Diocese of Buffalo, where STILL no official has been held accountable for ignoring his 2004 report of sexual assault by a priest. Bishop Michael Fisher maintains this particular expression of clericalism by refusing to hold his officials accountable for botching clergy sexual abuse reports.
The silent collateral damage of the clergy sex abuse crisis points to the absurdity of the Church Synod
Notice people missing from the pews? In many cases, you’re witnessing evidence of the silent collateral damage of the clergy sex abuse crisis, and it points to the absurdity of the Church Synod going on now. That’s the pope’s assembly of officials and other constituents to figure out how to make a better Church WITHOUT considering their own officials’ part in the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The pope and bishops will hold no Church official accountable for fostering abuse by protecting abusers. Be like this woman and call for their accountability anyway.
Senators, survivors call for accountability in botched handling of child sex abuse reports–something bishops NEVER do
Elite Olympic gymnasts made it clear: It isn't enough to put away the doctor who molested them. Those who enabled the molester by ignoring/mishandling abuse reports need to be held accountable as well. Senators and the FBI director agreed. If only Bishop Michael Fisher could grasp this concept as well.