Joshua Gill | Religion Reporter
The president of St. Bonaventure University urged Catholic Bishop Richard Malone to resign Thursday to allow the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, to heal from mishandling past abuses.
University President Dennis R. DePerro said the diocese cannot heal from the past years revelations of mishandled abuse cases and cover-ups of abuse allegations until Malone steps down.
DePerro cited several investigative reports from the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team revealing that Malone protected the identities of up to 25 priests accused of sexual abuse or misconduct and failed to remove other accused priests from ministry. (RELATED: Pope Benedict Breaks Silence On Sex Abuse Crisis)
“We are not healing,” DePerro said according to 7 Eyewitness News. “We are not restoring trust. And we are not moving forward in a way thats positive for our church.”
“No organization in todays world — including the Catholic Church — is exempt from accountability. I believe that a good leader would recognize that moment and step down,” he added.
DePerro argued that Malones resignation was especially necessary in light of the dioceses publicized list of diocesan clerics who were accused of sexual abuse or misconduct, which he said demonstrated the diocese has not been transparent or honest in its handling of sexual abuse allegations under Malones leadership. Malones alleged scandals also led, in part, to federal and state investigations of abuse cover-ups in the diocese.
Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York, gives a presentation during a gathering of New York state bishops and catechetical leaders at the Immaculate Conception Center in the Douglaston neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, U.S., Sept. 27, 2012. REUTERS/Gregory A. Shemitz
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