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Bishop Malone oversees confirmation ceremonies in Buffalo

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – Former head of the Diocese of Buffalo, Bishop Richard Malone, is once again overseeing confirmation ceremonies, despite his resignation more than 4 years ago.

Whistleblower and former Malone executive assistant Siobhan O’Connor said she was shocked and “deeply disturbed” to learn he was once again performing in Buffalo. She said that for many survivors, seeing someone, like Malone, can trigger past feelings and emotions associated with their trauma. However, she thinks Malone doesn’t care.

“I heard some people in different parts of the diocese say that Bishop Malone was celebrating the confirmation in their parishes, and that surprised me. But I was really shocked that it was him presiding over the ceremonies at St. Peter’s. It’s Greg’s. It’s the largest church in our diocese and there are so many students there. Unfortunately, it shows me that Bishop Malone is always thinking about himself, what’s there. what’s best for him and what he wants to do instead of thinking about what’s good for the people of our diocese,” O’Connor said in an interview with WBEN.

One of the survivors, Mike Whalen, expressed disgust at Malone’s return and found it insulting that the diocese approved him to oversee the ceremonies, even though he was already retired.

“I just think they’re trying to be arrogant about it. They can do whatever they want and there are no consequences. They can do whatever they want and no one will hold them accountable. We tried. I tried by telling my story about the evils in this diocese and here they are, just flaunting it in our faces,” Whalen said in an interview. “All survivors should be offended by this – that he would be able to do this.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: WBEN.com Newsroom