BUFFALO (NY)
WKBW TV
August 16, 2019
In the wake of more than 100 child sex abuse lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act, a sudden departure is now blindsiding a Diocese already in crisis.
Stephen Parisi, a seminarian, is announcing his “immediate withdrawal” over what he calls, “alarming and problematic governance” of the Buffalo Diocese and Christ the King Seminary. Parisi served as Dean of Seminarians at Christ the King Seminary, a leadership role among the young men pursuing a vocation in the priesthood.
Parisi wrote a six page letter to Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone explaining why he left the seminary. While speaking to 7Eyewitness News, Parisi described an “unhealthy, hostile environemtn” at Christ the King in East Aurora since he began there in January 2018.
“If you don’t go by what they tell you to do, or suggest that you do, you’re told that you can be dismissed. You’re reminded you can be dismissed for any reason at any time,” Parisi said.
The “difficult year,” as Parisi calls it, started last September when Father Joe Gatto was placed on leave last September from the seminary after three allegations of sexual misconduct.
“People were trying to climb to the top…there was really no clear organization chart for the Seminary. It was very chaotic.”
Not only did he call for Bishop Richard Malone to resign: “We need change. We need somebody to come in and clean house. We need what the church terms as an apostolic investigation of this diocese.”
But he also is asking parishioners to take action. “This culture of blackmail and hypocrisy within the clergy and the hierarchy is so deep, it is so entrenched. The only way for the church to survive is for good and honest lay people to reclaim their church and the first step is to stop putting money in the collection basket.”
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