Hit by hundreds of lawsuits over a clergy misconduct scandal, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York, has filed for bankruptcy protection.
In this May 29, 2012 file photo, Bishop Richard Malone speaks during a news conference in Buffalo, N.Y. The embattled Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, Feb. 28 2020, taking another major step in its effort to recover from a clergy misconduct scandal that's been the basis for hundreds of lawsuits, Vatican intervention and the resignation of Malone on Dec. 4, 2019.
With its filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the western New York diocese became the second in the state to file for Chapter 11 reorganization, and one of more than 20 dioceses to seek bankruptcy protection nationwide. Most recently, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, filed Feb. 19.
Scharfenberger, who is temporarily overseeing the Buffalo diocese, said the decision will enable the highest possible number of victims to be compensated while allowing the work of the diocese to continue. The diocese includes 163 parishes and missions across eight western New York counties. Attorneys Steve Boyd and Jeff Anderson, who represent some alleged sexual misconduct victims, criticized the filing as self-serving. Critics of the process say the proceedings can limit victims’ access to sensitive records with the potential to expose additional wrongdoing by priests or senior church officials.
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