Media reports detailing the diocesan coverup of a priest’s alleged sexual assault upon Rev. Ryszard Biernat when he was a seminarian in 2003
Not permitted by the diocese to report the abuse, he says he was additionally threatened into silence by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz. The alleged offending priest, Fr. Art Smith, never suffered consequences for this alleged crime. This case never went before the diocesan attorneys or the Diocesan Review Board. Fast forward to 2013, Fr. Ryszard is appointed as secretary to Bishop Richard Malone and vice chancellor of the diocese, an appointment in which he thought he could be of help to abuse victims and play a role in helping to weed out corruption. Instead, he found himself working in a system that was not going to change under that bishop. And so he started making secret audio recordings…
Fr. Ryszard Biernat’s interview with Charlie Spect from WKBW-tv
March 4, 2020
Discussion on Bishop Scharfenberger’s reluctance to re-instate Fr. Ryszard into ministry following what was an obvious retaliatory move by the former bishop to remove him from ministry with use of a canonical “Penal Remedy.” The reason for the removal from ministry? Because he revealed secrets. Fr. Ryszard states: “In the decree, they cite policies of secrecy, but isn’t that what led us into the trouble that we are in right now?” Biernat said, “Secrecy…that we kept things secret and that everything is OK as long as people don’t find out.”
Fr. Ryszard Biernat’s full interview with Steve Brown from WGRZ-TV
September 6, 2019
Graphic details of abuse by priest when Biernat was a seminarian
video
Bishop Silenced Fr. Ryszard about alleged sexual assault
WKBW, Charlie Spect – September 5, 2019 [Photo above]
First news interview concerning this case
video
Ryszard Biernat speaks with WBEN-930
September 10, 2019
audio: 17 minutes
Who is Father Ryszard Biernat, and why would he secretly record Bishop Malone?
Buffalo News By Published |Updated text/photo
Buffalo bishops silenced Fr. Ryszard about alleged sex assault
WKBW Charlie Spect, September 05, 2019
Discloses sexual assault for the first time
Bishop’s Council of the Laity were informed
video
WBFO-NPR reports
Various reports on him
audio
Exclusive WKBW report on the announcement of the recordings Fr. Ryszard took
WKBW – Charlie Spect
September 4, 2019
video
Fr Ryszard’s initial confirmation of abuse to congregation
Buffalo News Published |
text, photo
The 2016 Letter in question which Fr. Ryszard wrote to his friend who was a seminarian is addressed by Fr Ryszard in his various interviews. This question/answer on WBEN with Charlie Specht’s commentary helps shed enormous light on the subject. It is located at the timeline mark 18:15 in this linked audio recording.
Siobhan O’Connor has also written about the nature of the contents of this Letter.
LifeSite News published a comprehensive examination of the subject.
Here are the Letters that count in our deliberations. They reflect not only legal crimes but true moral depravity among clergy/bishop in our diocese.
