Buffalo Diocese Files for Bankruptcy Protection Amid Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

WRGB-TV, Channel 6
February 28, 2020

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/buffalo-diocese-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-amid-sexual-abuse-lawsuits

BUFFALO NY (WRGB) - The Buffalo Diocese officially filing for bankruptcy protection today in the wake of legal action regarding sexual abuse.

The Child Victims Act became law last August, allowing victims of sexual abuse to file lawsuits against their alleged victims.

According to the filing, the Diocese is claiming 10 to 50-million dollars in assets, and 50 to 100-million dollars in liabilities, saying they need financial help to settle many of the lawsuits.

Albany bishop Edward Scharfenberger was appointed to run the Buffalo Diocese after Richard Malone resigned. He had the following to say:

"My hope is that going forward, regardless of the mistakes we have made, regardless of the suspicions that may rightfully have been raised about the way's things were done that going forward, were going to see a lot of action that will result in very fair resolutions as much as we can."

Buffalo is now the second diocese in the state to file for bankruptcy.

They follow the Rochester Diocese, who filed for chapter 11 help back in September.