Buffalo Leak further exposes Bishop Malone as Complicit
Statement regarding the exposure of secret archives in Buffalo
For immediate release, September 25, 2018
Zach Hiner, Executive Director, zhiner@SNAPnetwork.org, (517) 974-9009
Today’s revelations from CNN regarding secret records of abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo underscore exactly why we believe it is critical that all states empanel independent investigations into cases of institutional abuse.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/25/us/buffalo-bishop-catholic-diocese-sex-abuse/index.html
New York state has already begun this process – as have at least eleven other states – and we encourage Attorneys General nationwide to begin investigations of their own. Only through independent investigations by law enforcement can the whole truth be exposed.
Based on today’s report, it is clear that Bishop Malone knowingly endangered parishioners in his diocese and as such should step aside until the current investigation is complete. We applaud the brave whistleblower who risked their livelihood by sharing these secret records with the public in order to ensure that a full investigation can take place, and we encourage others who may have knowledge of current or former cover-ups to come forward in order to protect children and families in their own communities.
New York state currently has a hotline open that survivors of abuse can call to share their story and we encourage anyone who has experienced abuse in their life to call this hotline today.
NY Hotline number for victims and survivors: 800-771-7755 all calls are confidential
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact: Zach Hiner, zhiner@SNAPnetwork.org, (517) 974-9009, Tim Lennon, 415-312-5820 tlennon@snapnetwork.org, Melanie Sakoda 925-708-6175, melanie.sakoda@gmail.com
Barbara Blaine, founder of SNAP, passed away on Sunday, September 24th, 2017. Her dying was sudden and completely unexpected. Words cannot express our sorrow nor are there words to express our gratitude for her relentless advocacy. She truly was a hero. There is an old saying, “well behaved women seldom make history”. Barbara made history and the world is a better place.
We have put together a tribute for Barbara Blaine to honor her memory. If you would like to contribute a memory, please send your favorite memory of Barbara to admin@snapnetwork.org
50 State AG Call for Grand Jury
Write a letter to the attorney general of your state. Demand, request, and beg them to impanel a grand jury.
Any investigation must be:
- independent of and separate from the church
- must have subpoena powers and ability to compel testimony under oath
Anything short of these criteria is a sham and whitewash.
In addition, write letters to the editor, make phone calls to politicians as they can apply pressure to keep them responsive to our demand. We need to make efforts to ensure that they follow up on what the state is doing to investigate these crimes.
The Attorneys General of forty states have inquired about the grand jury process in Pennsylvania. Let's get statewide investigations going in fifty states.
Note to Letter Writers
Use your own words and style of writing. Cut and paste from the templates as you wish. Include your experiences, whether as a survivor or as a member of the community. And relate your letter to the state you were abused in or state now living in.
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