Tag: Rev Ryszard Biernat

Accountability IS mercy

My message to Papal Nuncio: As a corroborating witness to Msgr LiPuma’s participation in clergy sexual abuse coverup, I object to his candidacy to any office or title in the Roman Catholic Church

Jennifer Kane

In 2004, a 23-year-old seminarian wrote to vice chancellor Monsignor David LiPuma asking for help concerning sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a diocesan priest--help he never received. So, I have written a letter. It's a letter not just to the monsignor's superiors, but ultimately to him personally...for the salvation of his soul. No matter what happens with his career, we pray that Monsignor David LiPuma will at the very least own up to the harm he inflicted upon the seminarian and others while operating as an officer of the Diocese of Buffalo and repent. (To access the letter, click title above)

Accountability IS mercy, Disturbing actions of the Bishop of Buffalo, Rev. Ryszard Biernat

A perverse continuation of the corrupt diocesan culture: promoting officials complicit in coverup of clergy sexual abuse

Jennifer Kane

Bishop Michael Fisher's claim, “I want to be about accountability and transparency,” rings hollow. Without professional accountability for the officials we trusted to protect us, any hope of “renewal” for our diocese mired in this endless clergy sexual abuse crisis is impossible. And this crisis is here to stay as long as the bishop continues to appoint in leadership positions officials who have compromised their integrity by participating in orchestrated coverups of up clergy sexual abuse allegations. Such recent appointments of diocesan leaders only reveal a perverse continuation of the corrupt culture that promotes/protects the very officials who were complicit in enabling the crisis. (Click title to read more...)

6-part series: Laity's response to sex abuse crisis, Lay Advisory Groups

How laity can step up their response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Diocese of Buffalo. PART FOUR: Loss of Objectivity is a product of toxic diocesan culture.

Jennifer Kane

(AUDIO read by author) We explore indications that the Diocese of Buffalo, over the course of many years, groomed a tight-knit circle of lay advisors in a system that effectively compromised their objectivity. Lose that, and you can easily get duped.

6-part series: Laity's response to sex abuse crisis, Lay Advisory Groups

How laity can step up their response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Diocese of Buffalo PART THREE: Enabling is a product of toxic diocesan culture.

Jennifer Kane

(AUDIO read by author) To combat the clergy sexual abuse crisis, it is not enough to address the abusers. We have to change the look-the-other-way culture that allowed the abusers to flourish. We examine more dark corners of the diocese to watch how this enabling culture plays out and what laity can do to root it out.