The Diocese of Buffalo has agreed to enact more secular oversight of its response to complaints of clergy sexual abuse in a legal settlement with New York State Attorney General Letitia James, resolving a 2020 lawsuit that accused the diocese of mishandling allegations.
Bishop Michael W. Fisher of Buffalo joined mourners outside a Tops grocery store where 10 people were killed and three others were injured in what law enforcement authorities said was a racially motivated crime.
Several U.S. Catholic bishops expressed sorrow and called out racism and gun violence after reports of a May 14 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, that left at least three injured and 10 dead — a crime authorities categorized as likely motivated by hatred for Black people.
Expressing shock and sorrow in the wake of an apparently racially-motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York supermarket on Saturday, May 14, Bishop Robert Brennan called for prayers for the families of the victims.
In an introductory teleconference Tuesday morning, Dec.1, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fisher of Washington emphasized the collaborative, cooperative, and communicative approach to ministry that he will bring to the Diocese of Buffalo as its new bishop.
The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo faces near certain bankruptcy after posting a $5 million loss in 2019, citing a total reduction $21.7 million in assets attributed to the financial impact of its sexual abuse crisis, according to a the diocese’s annual financial report released Jan.30.
Pope Francis has accepted the immediate resignation of Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, N.Y on Wednesday morning. The announcement comes two months after the Vatican asked Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio to conduct a fact-finding mission into the Diocese of Buffalo, which has been roiled with claims that Bishop Malone has mishandled numerous abuse cases.
Following his return from Rome this weekend, Buffalo’s Bishop Richard Malone says Pope Francis is aware of the difficult situation that both he and the diocese are facing.
Buffalo’s embattled bishop, Richard Malone, will be in Rome next week as part of the New York region’s scheduled meetings with Vatican officials.
