BUFFALO (NY)
Spectrum News 1 [Buffalo, NY]
January 27, 2026
By Halena Sepulveda
Abuse victims began to deliver impact statements in the bankruptcy case against the Diocese of Buffalo on Tuesday.
It’s the first of four sessions where 80 people will speak about the sexual abuse they say they experienced from clergy members.
The courtroom was filled with both tears and anger Tuesday as men and women approached the stand to speak about the sexual abuse they say they experienced in non-testimonial statements. These statements are not intended to be used as evidence in a legal case, but rather to describe and resolve an immediate crisis and prevent further harm.
Some statements went into graphic detail about forms of abuse that the victims experienced as children by both priests and nuns belonging to the diocese.
Michael Whalen, who first came out about the abuse he endured back in 2018, which then led to an investigation that uncovered more than 900 people with similar claims against the diocese regarding past sexual abuse, was the first to speak.
“These were crimes against children and they went unpunished,” he said. “You know, my abuser admitted to a couple of dozen boys and he openly admitted he was able to walk free. He wasn’t on a sex registry. He wasn’t punished in any way.”
Many victims expressed anger toward the Catholic Diocese, claiming that the diocese knew of the abuse happening and let it go on for far too long under the order of former Bishop Richard Malone.
Current Bishop Michael Fisher was present at Tuesday’s meeting and listened to victims’ stories.
Fisher, in a statement, calls the statements a “long-awaited moment,” and that the diocese remains committed to doing everything they can to support the victims:
“This is a long-awaited moment for those who have endured the devastating trauma of sexual abuse to speak and be heard. I will be listening intently with an empathetic heart and mind to these deeply personal accounts. It’s my hope that this opportunity provides victim-survivors a sense of justice, however painful it is for them to recount their experiences. We remain committed to doing everything we can to support their healing.”
Additional sessions will take place Jan. 28, Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.
The diocese filed for bankruptcy protection regarding the claims of abuse in 2020. A settlement agreement of more than $300 million between the diocese, its parishes and some insurance carriers, has been made, but there is a possibility that amount could increase.