Calls mounting for Bishop Malone's resignation

By Charlie Specht And Christine Streich
WKBW
August 24, 2018

https://www.wkbw.com/news/county-lawmaker-calls-for-bishop-malone-to-resign

Calls are mounting for Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone to resign in the wake of a 7 Eyewitness News investigation that revealed a continuing cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. 

The latest to join the list is Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who called for Malone's resignation following the Bishops announcement that he would remain in his post.

“As a born and raised Catholic growing up here in Western New York this is deeply painful for all of us to know that people get betrayed by men in cloth that people trusted." Hochul said, "And as a parent I find it abhorrent to know that my children themselves could have been exposed to this behavior by sexual offenders. And anyone who knew of these individuals and took no action, that is being complicit in a crime. This is a crime against children. And my view is, I wish the Catholic church would be more concerned about keeping children away from sexual predators, instead of keeping children away from loving families who want to adopt them. I believe he (Bishop Malone) should resign. We need new leadership to come in here, clean house, and say there is zero tolerance for anyone who would ever consider violating the trust families and children have in their priests and administrators in the Catholic schools. It has to end."

Three elected officials from South Buffalo -- the region's most heavily Catholic enclave -- including a United States Congressman, said Malone must resign immediately because he has lost the trust of much of the region's nearly 600,000 Catholics.

In addition, they are pushing for a criminal investigation of the Diocese of Buffalo.

Rep. Brian Higgins said, "Overwhelming evidence recently released clearly shows that Bishop Malone has exhibited poor leadership and knew about children and others put in harm's way. He must resign."