NY--Bishop is 'coldhearted bureaucrat'

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
January 28, 2015

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ny_bishop_is_coldhearted_bureaucrat

Another credibly accused predator priest has been exposed.

Shame on Bishop Robert Malone for keeping secret about the allegations against Fr. Linus Hennessy. Buffalo parishioners, parents, police and prosecutors should be asking “How many other proven, admitted or credibly accused pedophile priests is Malone covering up for now?”   

(There are now 17 publicly accused child molesting Buffalo Catholic clerics. See BishopAccountability.org)

And because of his response to two brave child sex abuse victims, Malone should change his title to “the Buffalo diocese cold-hearted CEO” or “the Buffalo Catholic diocesan top bureaucrat.”

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/schools/two-ask-pope-francis-to-investigate-how-buffalo-diocese-handled-sex-abuse-claims-20150127

His words and actions reveal Malone to be anything but pastoral. He claims him and his church colleagues complied with church abuse guidelines. Even if that’s true, it’s irrelevant.

The issue here is “What actions would be just and compassionate?” not “What actions does one powerful prelate unilaterally deem ‘in compliance’ with vague, self-serving church policies written by complicit church officials who have concealed - and are still concealing – heinous crimes against children.”

Listen to his what Malone said yesterday: ““These cases were handled in accordance with the policies and procedures enacted by our diocese and consistent with the Charter for The Protection of Children and Young People.”

Can you imagine Jesus, or for that matter Pope Francis, using this kind of bureaucrat-speak?  At the very least, Malone should have admitted that the allegations against Fr. Hennessy are credible and begged anyone hurt by any church employee to call police. Instead, he ducked and dodged like a politician who had been well-rehearsed by public relations professionals. Shame on him.

Roughly 30 US bishops have posted on their websites the names of predator priests. It’s the quickest, best and cheapest way to protect kids: by letting the public know who these potentially dangerous pedophiles are.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm

But Malone refuses to do this. Six of his brother bishops in New York refuse as well.  Only the Rochester diocese has taken this “bare minimum” step towards greater safety.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/diocesan_lists/Rochester_2012_06_06_Dispositions.html

Our hearts go out to Vanessa DeRosa and Antonio Flores. Their bravery, compassion and persistence stand in stark contrast to Malone’s cowardice, callousness and selfishness.

We hope the courage of Vanessa and Antonio will prod others who were hurt by Buffalo Catholic employees to step up, speak out, expose predators, protect kids, deter cover ups and start healing.