Bishop Richard Malone. Change.org
Should Bishop Richard Malone resign and not march in the Buffalo St Patrick’s Day parade because of revelations about priest sex abuse in Western New York?
No St Patrick’s Day can pass us by without a parade controversy, this year offered up by Buffalo, New York, where a petition is calling for an end to the tradition in which the Buffalo bishop leads the parade and says mass beforehand.
With 100 signatures, the Change.org petition addresses the revelation that Bishop Richard Malone covered up the sexual assault of children in his diocese by over 100 Buffalo priests.
“Several confidants of his resigned from the Diocese and 60 Minutes even ran a segment on the embattled Bishop,” the petition reads.
Read more: Irish Embassy in Washington DC disappointed over St. Patrick’s Day parade cancellation
A Buffalo deacon was the first member of the clergy to call for Bishop Richard Malone's resignation over withholding the names of priests accused of abuse. Tonight, Buffalo Deacon Paul Snyder tells Bill Whitaker why he's demanding an investigation. https://t.co/oJf5aCGzcx pic.twitter.com/fRUiDcNl8B
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 28, 2018
“Thousands of Buffalo Catholics, including many of his own priests, have called for his resignation yet he refuses to resign, as well as publicly apologize. He, along with the Diocese, have denied settlements to dozens of victims brave enough to come forward and offered small ones to some that don't even begin to cover the decades of counseling bills that have added up.
“He has actively allowed priests to remain in ministry after multiple allegations have surfaced against them, even allowing Fr. Riter back into a church after a father had caught him molesting his son.
Documents obtained by CNN suggest that Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo concealed the identities of priests who were accused of sexual assault and let them continue working in the church https://t.co/tE6Ex1qEOu
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) September 26, 2018
“Bishop Malone's actions have proven he cares more about his title and authority than he does for the hundreds and hundreds of children who were raped and molested by his priests. He is the exact opposite of everything a true Bishop should stand for and he has no right marching in a parade, let alone leading a church."
The Buffalo diocese has stated that Bishop Malone will continue to lead the parade, however, with one abuse survivor stating that the tradition should not be removed.
Read more: Why living in the US can make the Irish detest St. Patrick's Day
James Faluszczak, a survivor of clergy sex abuse, says he doesn't believe Bishop Richard Malone should make a public appearance at the St. Patrick's Day Parade https://t.co/PO1X3Zw0Vc
— News 4, WIVB-TV (@news4buffalo) February 16, 2019
"He should be able to walk in the parade. It’s been a tradition that’s been going on for 80 years, why change it?" survivor Michale Whalen told WGRZ.
The United Irish American Association, the group which organizes the parade, one of the largest in the country, has stated that the decision on whether or not Bishop Malone walks in the parade is up to the diocese.