The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and the Movement to Restore Trust announced a new partnership today to create reforms amid the recent clergy sex scandals.
The two groups met over the weekend, and will work over the next several months to implement reforms.
The groups announced a series of specific initiatives today. Initiatives agreed upon include:
- A commitment by Bishop Malone to hold Diocesan-wide listening sessions. Those dates and locations will be released by the end of April and Bishop Richard Malone says he’s committed to holding sessions over several months.
- Bishop Malone will continue to meet with victims
- The Diocese will work with MRT representatives to review the Diocese’s approach to releasing the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse.
- The Diocese and MRT representatives will review the Diocese’s intake processes for sex abuse claims to insure that victims of sex abuse are treated with dignity and respect and receive proper pastoral care.
- Bishop Malone will work to establish a new process for allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct that are made against a bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo.
- Expanding the Diocesan Finance Council.
- Expanding the Use of the Ethics Reporting Service.