BUFFALO (NY)
Buffalo News
Dec. 5, 2019
By Lou Michel
Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger has listened to clergy sexual abuse survivors in that Catholic diocese and is capable of promoting healing in the Buffalo Diocese, according to two Albany area advocates for the victims.
Scharfenberger was appointed the temporary administrator of the Buffalo Diocese by Pope Francis on Wednesday, the same day Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone retired early after facing intense criticism over his handling of the clergy abuse scandal here.
“He has done a lot of work toward transparency,” said Nancy Fratianni, leader of the Albany chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP. “We believe he can bring about healing in the Buffalo Diocese through promoting transparency, turning over all records of abuse to the police and keeping the public informed of all issues, more than Bishop Malone was.”
“I have nothing negative to say about him as far as that goes,” Fratianni said of Scharfenberger.
In 2018, Scharfenberger won her respect when he called for creation of a commission of lay people to investigate bishops accused of sexual misconduct. Bishops investigating accused bishops was not the answer, he said.
“That was very brave of Bishop Scharfenberger to say that,” Fratianni said.
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