BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Vatican ambassador Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio, visited Christ the King Seminary on Friday, but protesters urged him to fire Bishop Malone.
The seminary and diocese have been mired in controversy through much of the last year:
September 2018 -- Rev. Joseph C. Gatto, president-rector of Christ the King Seminary, is put on administrative leave by the diocese after an allegation of sexual misconduct.
October 2018 -- Multiple Catholic men come forward to allege unwanted sexual advances by Gatto, and a former seminarian describes a "sexual culture" in the 1990s at Christ the King Seminary.
November 2018 -- Msgr. Frederick Leising, the former president-rector of Christ the King Seminary, is suspended after an allegation that he stuck his tongue down the throat of a teenage girl in the 1980s. Leising denied the allegation and was later reinstated by the diocese.
April 24, 2019 -- The diocese suspends three Hamburg priests -- Rev. Arthur Mattulke, Rev. Patrick O'Keefe and Rev. Robert Orlowski -- after "unsuitable, inappropriate and insensitive conversations" took place during a social gathering of seminarians and priests at SS. Peter & Paul rectory in Hamburg.
April 29, 2019 -- The 7 Eyewitness News I-Team obtains secret documents that include graphic details of the "pornographic" material that was discussed at the rectory in Hamburg. One employee called the details "disgusting" and "absolutely repulsive."
Two more diocesan priests -- Rev. Bryan Zielenieski and Rev. Cole Webster -- reveal that they also attended the party and were reprimanded by the diocese with letters in their files. They downplayed the nature of the conversations.
May 3, 2019 -- Multiple sources tell 7 Eyewitness News that the seminary -- under the guidance of interim president-rector Rev. John Staak and seminary academic dean Michael J. Sherry -- has been conducting a "leak investigation" to determine who provided documents to 7 Eyewitness News.
Both Sherry and Staak deny the existence of any investigation, but multiple sources say the seminarians who came forward were "interrogated" by Sherry multiple times to determine how the information could have spread. A second confidential document written by Sherry describes the allegations against the suspended priests in greater detail.
May 7, 2019 -- A seminarian crashes his car through a house near Christ the King and is arrested and charged with drunk driving.
May 9, 2019 -- After questioning by 7 Eyewitness News, the diocese acknowledged the Rev. Jeffrey L. Nowak, pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians parish in Cheektowaga, is under investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations stem from the confidential documents describing testimony from the seminarians.
Staak breaks his silence, denying that a leak investigation ever took place, while Catholic whistleblowers and former priests Robert Hoatson and James Faluszczak hold a news conference in support of the seminarians who spoke out.
They also criticize the involvement of Sherry in the investigation. Of the criticism, Sherry states in an email, "If it is related to the seminary's concluded investigative process, it is very doubtful the individual is, in fact, well- and accurately-informed."
Staak, responding to critics who question whether the seminary should close its doors, said, "There's a corner that's being turned. It's not fully turned, but it's happening."
KEY LINKS IN THE BUFFALO DIOCESE SEX ABUSE SCANDAL:
More than 149 priestsin the Buffalo Diocese have been accused of sexual misconduct, and Malone has been criticized for allegedly covering up recent abuses.
Part 1of a 7 Eyewitness News I-Team investigation revealed that Malone returned Fr. Art Smith to ministry despite allegations of inappropriate contact with a child. Malone returned the accused priests to ministry after a previous bishop suspended him, documents obtained by the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team show.
Part 2 revealed that Malone allowed Fr. Robert Yetter to remain pastor of St. Mary's in Swormville despite multiple sexual harassment allegations by young men.
Part 3 cited church records that showed more than 100 priests in the diocese were accused of sexual abuse or misconduct. Malone in March released a list of only 42 priests "who were removed from ministry, were retired, or left ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor."
The investigative series sparked Buffalo civic leaders to call for Malone's resignation and Catholics have mounted weekly protests in front of the Diocese of Buffalo Chancery. Malone in August held a news conference and refused to resign as Buffalo bishop.
In September, the State Attorney General launched a statewide investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and last week, it was revealed the FBI has launched its own criminal investigation into the diocese.
In October, "60 Minutes" aired a national investigative story on Bishop Malone and the Diocese of Buffalo.
In November, I-Team Chief Investigator Charlie Specht traveled to Portland, Maine. Malone served as bishop there before coming to Buffalo. There, Charlie spoke with advocates for victims of sexual abuse about how Malone had been accused of mishandling sex abuse cases. The I-Team also obtained new documents surrounding the cases which paint a much different picture of the bishop’s past.
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