BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is on a healing mission in the coming weeks following the recent clergy sex abuse crisis in the local catholic church.
Malone held the first of seven victim listening sessions Saturday at St. Gregory The Great Parish in Amherst.
The two hour long event was a time for the bishop to hear the concerns of parishioners and offer them recommendations for future initiatives.
The first session was attended by a wide variety of people who came away with differing opinions following the session.
I think today went very much as we expected it would, there was a good turnout, I think the questions and the dialogue from people was very well thought out.
Paul Bauer, Movement to Restore Trust
I had hoped to come away with a more positive hopeful feeling, I need to reflect more, but I actually feel distressed by it because I felt that the format was not a positive one, and ultimately the group was so polarized I'm going to have to really think about what that means for our diocese.
Siobhan O'Connor, Buffalo Diocese whistleblower
There are six remaining listening sessions, with the next on June 15th.
- Saturday June 15, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, St. Leo Site, Niagara Falls
- Thursday, June 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Parish, Buffalo
- Saturday, June 29, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Archbishop Walsh High School, Olean
- Saturday, August 3, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Ascension Parish, Batavia
- Saturday, August 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Nativity of our Lord Parish, Orchard Park
- Saturday August 17, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, Dunkirk
