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
Recently, the Diocese of Buffalo released an embarrassing manifestation that it is still in the business of concealing its dirty laundry concerning how its officials handled clergy sexual abuse reports. Let’s be clear. When a diocese covers up the actions of its officials accused of covering up clergy sexual abuse reports, it ipso facto continues their coverup of the abuse. Sheltering diocesan officials from any form of scrutiny about their professional conduct while working on behalf of the People of God is all a part of diocesan culture. Such sheltering is also how dioceses groom and protect their future leaders in the system. Bishop Fisher is set to choose 36 pastors to shepherd the remaining parishes left after diocesan officials destroyed what we laity have built up the past 175 years. You can bet your sweet oak church pew that two internally “investigated” and sheltered monsignors will be eligible to be on that list of pastors. [Click title above to access full article including a link to text of my reports]
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.
"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]
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]
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
