Tag: Catholic diocese of Buffalo

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]

Bishop Accountability

Diocese of Buffalo’s ‘surprise’ at lay apathy is no surprise

Jennifer Kane

The Diocese of Buffalo's report to the worldwide synod has been released. A mere 650 laity out of 600,000 Catholics in the diocese contributed. The report expresses "surprise" at such apathy. That this organization's leaders are so surprised is just one sign of its disassociation with rank-and-file members. Read this excerpt for more signs of… Continue reading Diocese of Buffalo’s ‘surprise’ at lay apathy is no surprise

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.

Bishop Accountability, Disturbing actions of the Bishop of Buffalo, Lay Advisory Groups, You can't make this up

Complicit laypeople in the clergy sexual abuse crisis are for real

Jennifer Kane

"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]

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

A call for accountability: Bishop Grosz faces another Vos estis report under 3rd-party bishop reporting system

Jennifer Kane

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]

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.

Buffalo Survivors Group, whistleblowers

Revisiting Good Samaritan parable: Heartless reaction among diocese’s clergy to survivors of clergy sexual abuse

Jennifer Kane

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.

Disturbing actions of the Bishop of Buffalo, Lay Advisory Groups, Rev. Ryszard Biernat

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

Jennifer Kane

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.”

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.

Lay Advisory Groups, Renewal efforts

The silent collateral damage of the clergy sex abuse crisis points to the absurdity of the Church Synod

Jennifer Kane

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 Diocese of Buffalo holds NO official accountable for fostering abuse by protecting abusers. Be like this woman and call for their accountability anyway.