Diocese of Buffalo Updates List of Accused Priests Yet Continues to Omit Names
Church officials in Buffalo have updated their lists of accused priests. However, while providing more information, they continue to omit names, not presenting parishioners and the public with the full truth.
Buffalo church officials split hairs when they refuse to list the names of deceased priests who have “only” one allegation against them. If it weren’t for the Church’s history of obfuscating allegations, minimizing knowledge about them, and declining to investigate them in the first place, it is likely that some of those claims would have been corroborated many years ago. We also know that it is often after seeing that someone else has named an abuser that other victims realize they are not alone and come forward too. This has happened in the #MeToo movement, with university abuse scandals, and within the church abuse scandal.
It is notable that this update has occurred only after the Bishop Richard Malone began to be formally investigated by the Vatican. Once again, more information is revealed in Buffalo only after intense, outside pressure has been applied.
So, we hope that New York Attorney General Letitia James is applying that pressure in her investigation into cases of clergy abuse. We urge victims, witnesses, and whistle-blowers who see this news to come forward, make a report to both A.G. James and local police, and help uncover the full truth of what has gone on in Buffalo.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(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)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director