Category: Accountability IS mercy

Accountability IS mercy, Disturbing actions of the Bishop of Buffalo, whistleblowers

Bishops buy their way out of moral crisis in the Diocese of Buffalo

Jennifer Kane

[Audio available read by author] Our bishops (past and present) are spending millions of dollars to get the best attorneys money can buy so they can avoid accountability (suffering). While this latest lawsuit settlement provides a theater piece towards diocesan “renewal,” in reality the deals cut with the bishops cheapen the human suffering that they helped perpetuate—ruined lives, suicides, destruction of faith and loss of souls amidst the clergy sex abuse crisis. This is not how Christ the King taught his apostles to lead. [Click headline to continue reading]

Accountability IS mercy, Bishop Accountability, Buffalo Survivors Group

Understanding the reactions of abuse survivors any time an alleged complicit bishop ministers in public

Jennifer Kane

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 alleged grave malfeasance. That is not a small point.

Accountability IS mercy, Disturbing actions of the Bishop of Buffalo

Violation of public trust: Bishop Grosz’s ‘suspension’ mere ‘lip service,’ say outraged clergy sexual abuse survivors

Jennifer Kane

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.

Accountability IS mercy, Disturbing actions of the Bishop of Buffalo, Rev. Ryszard Biernat, You can't make this up

Clericalism: when laity are held accountable and clergy are not

Jennifer Kane

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.

Accountability IS mercy

Accountability is key to establishing Trust in the Diocese of Buffalo

Jennifer Kane

This pulled quote from today's Buffalo News front-page article accurately quotes me. But...Let me further smash the bubble of deference to a Catholic bishop. Most laity are unified on this point: If diocesan officials cited in the AG report covered up clergy sex abuse, they need to be relieved of duty, NOT promoted. We don't trust them.

Accountability IS mercy

“An act of spite” keeps heroic whistleblower priest sidelined—one year later

Jennifer Kane

"... if you try to groom a child for sex, Malone will stick up for you, but if you try to stop that behavior, he’ll fire you and call you a traitor." That pretty much sums up what happened to a Diocese of Buffalo priest who acted on his moral conscience. Wait. It's actually worse than that.… Continue reading “An act of spite” keeps heroic whistleblower priest sidelined—one year later

Accountability IS mercy

Buffalo Bishops throw soft bombs at clergy sex abuse survivors and their advocates who call for accountability following AG report

Jennifer Kane

We aren’t talking about being nice to a guy who made mistakes, bishops. We are talking about holding officials accountable for their gross dereliction of duty, concealing child rapists, wasting millions of donor dollars, and putting people at risk.Check out 44:44 on the timeline of this first media conference with “Bishop Mike, " as he… Continue reading Buffalo Bishops throw soft bombs at clergy sex abuse survivors and their advocates who call for accountability following AG report