BUFFALO (NY)
WKBW
March 20, 2018
By Charlie Specht
Victims say it leaves questions unanswered
Sexual abuse victims say the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo releasing a list of priests accused of sexual abuse is a good first step.
But they say that’s all it is — a first step.
Victims and their lawyers say there are categories of potential pedophile priests that this list leaves out.
First, there’s a discrepancy in the numbers. In 2004, Syracuse Bishop Robert Cunningham — who was then the number two man in the Buffalo Diocese — said there were a total of 53 priests in the diocese accused of abuse since 1950.
Fourteen years later, the list released today includes the names of 42 priests. Spokesman George Richert says the missing 11 priests are from religious orders and the diocese is “not intending to release more information than the names.”
There’s no mention of where the abuse occurred (what parishes), during what time period and how the diocese handled the abuse.
The diocese is also keeping secret the names of dead clergymen who had only one allegation against them. If someone else comes forward with allegations, Richert says they may add to the list.
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