BUFFALO (NY)
Spectrum News
October 8, 2019
By Mark Goshgarian
After months of parishioners voicing mistrust toward the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo over the handling of the clergy abuse crisis, Pope Francis has sent Bishop of Brooklyn Nicholas DiMarzio to Buffalo.
“It’s the pope saying, ‘I hear you.’ The alarm over Buffalo is so significant to have risen at that top most level,” said Rocco Palmo, Vatican expert.
The Diocese is the third placed under a visitation since the pontiff became leader of the Church in 2013.
“This visitation has come from the highest level of the Catholic Church. This is the equivalent in the Catholic Church of either an FBI investigation or a grand jury. It’s kind of like, in a way, being charged with a crime, and kind of hanging in that limbo,” said Palmo.
Palmo has known DiMarzio for 20 years, and says the Bishop’s fact-finding mission will be handled quickly and responsibly.
“And they’re sending in someone again with the universal reputation for being tough. Anyone who calls this guy soft has no idea who they’re dealing with,” said Palmo.
DiMarzio is expected to interview stakeholders, evaluate Bishop Richard Malone’s handling of clergy cases, review files and documents, as well as more than 200 Child Victims Act lawsuits.
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