This archive report was first published on 19 September 2019.
Published on September 19, 2019, a growing crisis in the Buffalo diocese has led to calls for Bishop Richard J. Malone's resignation. A council of prominent lay people, known as the Movement to Restore Trust, urged him to step down on September 5, so the diocese could move forward.
Some Buffalo priests began circulating a letter of no-confidence, similar to one circulated in Boston during its clergy abuse crisis in 2002. The letter was drafted by the Rev. Robert Zilliox, a canon lawyer who was a victim of abuse by a priest when he was 13.
According to Father Zilliox, Bishop Malone had returned priests to ministry despite accusations against them, against church protocol. He claimed that the bishop had been 'picking and choosing' when to send cases to Rome as required.
As of Wednesday, only 18 priests had signed the letter, with Father Zilliox fretting that it would not be enough. He urged his brother priests to step up, saying, 'We can't put up with this for another year and a half.'
