Nativity of Our Lord Church, Orchard Park
August 10, 2019

Stephanie Argentine kicked off the session at 9:30 a.m.  Bishop Malone started with a healing prayer.  Approx. 80 people in attendance.

Among Clergy in Attendance:
Father James Ciupek
Father Rob Wozniak
Father Peter Karalus
Father Peter Bassey

Themes from the Session:

Trust

• Lack of trust in the church leadership globally and at diocesan level
• Concerned with lack of trust in the system – everyone has questions
• Tell the truth – can the diocese be more truthful instead of not glossing over things
• This is about trust – there are still things that are not being shared. The truth hurts sometimes, the bishop is like a politician. We are supposed to be here for Jesus, and we cannot agree (just as our government). What is moving forward – stop hiding stuff – get it out in the open! Renew the face of the earth. Someone needs to step up and call it like it is!

Credibility/Accountability

• How does the Bishop regain credibility?
• Lack of action from Bishop Malone – no comments means what?
• Lack of judgement in choosing certain people for positions
• How is the Bishop accountable to the diocese – information hidden for years
• Need for apologies to people impacted
• Bishop to speak to all parishes (not just listening sessions)
• Should priests who are accountable provide an apology?

Training and Required Resources

• Training of priests – priests went to Seminary to become priests not to “run businesses”
• A person that is an expert in canon law is needed

Consistency, Clarification and Action across the Diocese

• Want the church to recognize there is a problem – not caught up in the middle ages
• Want answers more quickly
• Need for more precise procedures – shortening timeframe of process
• If a priest is not able to continue on, what is the process?
• Organization of the church is no longer suitable – just bishop and clergy; laity not being able to share and have some power
• Needs to be better screening of priests
• There are doubts as to whether the church will just do damage control of the situation and just get by or is ready to do anything constructive with right moral action. What Jesus Christ would have done? Address the wrongdoing. In cases where there was abuse involving an independent religious group, the local church has been not addressing issues
• How does the bishop know if the priests are acting out homosexually?
• Apology from former bishops for coverups is needed
• Want a restoration of and return to the full and original teachings of the church
• Rarely are the faithful taught about our Catholicism
• Only 1 in 5 Catholics believe in the real presence of eucharist

Our Priests/The Seminary

• Priests raising issues are subject to risk or actual blackmail by other priests
• Culture of the seminary – did the Bishop know what was going on at the seminary?
• Is the formation of the seminary inclusive of only priests? How are laity involved?
• Issues in weaponizing psychological evaluations
• Priests are humans – a lot of good priests have been accused and we don’t know the truth and as soon as their name is published, they are “guilty”
• Training for priesthood needs to be more wholesome
• Good priests are demoralized. Why hasn’t the bishop resigned yet?
• Does a priest ever have a chance to relay his issue and sides of things to someone? The review board or others?
• If I was accused, I want to protect my name.
• How the church handled these issues has been a disgrace
• We should hear what happens to the priest once accused
• What about their souls … do we just dump them?
• Are the seminaries too liberal?
• Priests were God chosen people (as we were taught) – they are all fallible and they are human just as we all are

Required Laity

• More involvement in laity

Finances

• Bankruptcy – what would happen to our donations in the event of bankruptcy
• Stop worrying about the wealth of the church

How are the Parishioners Feeling?

• Feel embarrassed, angry, disappointed. The issues are indefensible.
• We are concerned about the hurt to victims as well as clergy who are embarrassed to go out
• Disappointed our kids are walking away from church and do not want to be affiliated
• Disillusionment, embarrassment, frustration
• Overwhelming public opinion and concern, embarrassment was suggested. We are not equipped to publicly defend the situation at hand and there is no excuse to covering up abuse.
• Parishioners upset that we are selling churches, that there was not parish involvement, but we were just told
• Church is in crisis – the bad should not happen again
• Express extreme disappointment and how things have been handled
• After 73 years, I am not happy to be a Catholic
• Priests should be able to address their accusers
• The culture doesn’t support religion and religious beliefs – being in the Catholic Church with all of these issues, makes it even more difficult
• We feel the Catholic Church will prevail – St. Francis – rebuild my church!
• We have hope for the future, and we feel that the best course to take is to focus on better catechesis for our kids, so they don’t leave the church
• Expressions of heartbreak, discouragement but some expression of hope
• Angry and disillusioned but hopeful
• Protecting “criminals” is out of control – zero tolerance
• You can’t cure sexual predation
• Stop trying to bow down to offending church issues

Media/Communication

• Part played by media in sensationalizing issues
• Treatment of issues and reaction of media reports
• Any updates on two federal probes of the dioceses – ages, genders
• The WNY Catholic should publish more relevant features regarding this matter
• The church needs to not provide window dressing, and provide support to these issues and not turn it into damage control
• A factual representation of how the abuse came about – Church control, church silence – who is to speak the truth (the laity!). Need a balanced approach to the problem.
• Want more aspects to be public – still very much in the dark about the investigation process.
• Doubt of the group of the investigation

Moving Forward

• Restoration of the Faith
• Concerned for time frame of action
• Weaknesses in catechesis and lack of family prayer
• Parishes reluctant in talking about issues
• Signs of hope
• Charismatic young priests
• Can’t fix what you don’t know
• Concerned of future of church – continue to “recycle” priests who have performed criminal acts with people (within other parishes) – not remedied – need to hold priests to a higher standard
• The presence of the Bishop is a start
• Need for frequent parish sessions to get more involved and children back to church
• In God we Trust!
• The mission of the church is to follow Jesus Christ in the Church
• Happy about the Movement to Restore Trust
• Thanks to the Bishop for holding listening session
• Believe Bishop is doing the best he can, and he is a positive force to us, and the media has turned things around. Let’s be supportive of our bishop and let him lead the way.
• In an organization – a structure allows things to happen (because of absolute power); The church survives because of the laity
• We have a duty and responsibility as parishioners to help support the change in the structure. If we don’t, our kids won’t be supporting the church
• The administration of the church has the laity support; allow the priests to support the faith of the church
• Sunlight is the best disinfectant

** We don’t have to agree on anything to be kind!  (quote from Nancy Nielsen) **

In the last part of the session, Bishop Malone talked about some factual matters on the sexual abuse crisis.  See comments below.

In 2001 John Paul issued a decree – for any matter associated with abuse, the Pope would be a part of the dismissal of a priest.  You would hear in the media that a priest would be dismissed or be a part of a life of prayer and not practicing as a priest anymore.

The Bishop acknowledged that they are hiring a new canon law attorney in the Buffalo Dioceses.  The Bishop was appreciative of the people both within and not part of the Movement to Restore Trust.

The Bishop apologizes for the terrible actions of brother priests of 50-60 years.  No priest has been accused of a minor that has been ordained in the past 30 years.  He acknowledged that we have a long way to go and is happy that the Dallas Charter has been implemented and believe it has helped.  Believe this is a new era and we have had a delay in the Dioceses of Buffalo with these issues. 

Office of Professional Responsibility – Steven Halter (in attendance) and heads up this in the diocese and he comes with law enforcement experience.  Also hiring two more investigators.

Jackie Joy is the first person that anyone calling about abuse speaks to.  She advises them to call law enforcement.  If it is not false or frivolous, a deeper investigation takes place.  All investigations done by laity/former law enforcement.  The diocesan review board receives investigative report and debates and discusses thoroughly prior to making a decision.  All lay people are involved, except Monsignor Jerry Sullivan, who is required by canon law to participate at the matters involve clergy.  Review board will debate and make a recommendation and vote in front of Bishop.  And then when substantiated, it is communicated to Vatican, analyzed and a decision made.  Then communicated to media.  Takes a long time to be adjudicated!  Priest is a part of the interviewing process and heavily involved and advised to retain both civil and canon lawyers.

The Bishop has the authority to move a priest from ministry, but he cannot remove him as a priest permanently (only the Pope). 

The Bishop ended the session with the Our Father Prayer.

Ended:  11:30 a.m.

(Notes:  A. M. Klosko)

Join the discussion about the Movement to Restore Trust on September 7, 2019 in the Chapel at Blessed Sacrament RC Church, 263 Claremont Ave, Tonawanda, NY where MRT founders Paul Bauer, Thomas Beecher, Jr. and Nancy Nielsen will speak about the Movement to Restore Trust and how YOU can help the movement.

8 am Mass

8:40 am Breakfast

9:10 am Guest Speakers

10:15 am Bible Study

RSVP to attend one or all the sessions to WNYMensMinistry@yahoo.com.  Open to men from all denominations.  See the flyer below for more information.

Sacred Heart Parish Social Center, Batavia
August 3, 2019

Attendees & Process

About 75 people attended, including seven priests and Bishop Richard J. Malone, Movement to Restore Trust (MRT) Organizing Committee member John Hurley and Dennis Mahaney, director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the diocese, manned the front table, while MRT Organizing Committee member Maureen Hurley and Father Thomas Slon, SJ, rector of the Canisius Jesuit Community, manned the MRT table.  As in other Listening Sessions, the audience was respectful and made up mostly of people over the age of 60.

• Media are too focused on the Catholic Church as a target, exploiting the Church’s failures and creating a credibility problem for the diocese. 
• Other speakers noted that the media are not to blame, as we brought this on ourselves and need to accept that, cover up nothing, and answer for why abusive priests were treated differently, and were not punished but reassigned.
• Discouragement and a sense of betrayal have led to decreased financial contributions and diminished volunteerism. 
• Many questions were raised about where money for settlements came from, and whether Upon This Rock and Catholic Charities monies were used despite promises otherwise. 
• Offers of money may draw claims, but there should be more focus on offers of counseling. There was a demand for financial transparency and accountability. People do not want money diverted from Catholic education to payouts to victims.
• Support and sympathy for current active priests was expressed.  There is a shortage of priests, they are stretched too thin, were not trained to function in bureaucracy, and need help from the diocese and from strong, active parish councils and finance councils. 
• A Batavia-area study from 13 years ago was referenced by several speakers (assume this was from the time of the Journey in Faith and Grace).  They felt their input was ignored, some schools closed, and another may become a regional school.
• There was acknowledgment of decreasing resources currently and the need to combine assets to be more effective, but the feeling that the earlier study was not seriously considered was repeatedly mentioned. People want their voices to be heard and heeded. There was an appeal to revisit the 13-year old study and unite the energy of the people.
• Many speakers referenced that young people are leaving the Church, youth are not involved in Catholic schools or in parishes.  Young families need to be supported and encouraged to come back to Church.  Young people should be on parish councils. 
• Faith formation is important; strong catechesis programs need to incorporate new learning instruments that young people use. While the Church is aging, we need to meet young people where they are and acknowledge their needs.  The diocese needs more pastoral involvement to help this happen. 
• A call for more spiritual development, more focus on Bible studies, prayer groups, continuation of faith groups, and re-education on the importance of the liturgy.  The abuse issue has distracted us from our path to heaven. 
• “Turn the clock back” – priests should wear collars and be respected.  One speaker wondered why our clergy are silent on issues like abortion and same sex marriage, yet supportive of non-discrimination against refugees, African-Americans and LGBTQ individuals, seeming to focus on the Corporal Works of Mercy but not on the Spiritual Works of Mercy.  Educate people about sacred tradition and Church teaching.
• Christ the King Seminary:  there needs to be better screening of applicants for ministry, help them with tougher classes on abuse issue but also about priest anxiety and fear of dealing with youth.
• Don’t change the Lord’s Prayer as is being discussed in Europe!  Let priests marry.  
• A number of speakers were hopeful: “Lots of people still have great faith and we are here!” 
• Expressed thanks for the Movement to Restore Trust and a desire to be involved going forward.  The bishop was thanked for coming and was encouraged to continue to reach out beyond Buffalo.  The fact that he came and listened was very important.  However, one speaker said letters to the bishop reporting (non-sexual) misconduct by clergy went unanswered. 
• “We can be a hopeful Church.”  How do we re-focus on the future? Concentrate on Catholic education, offer resources for families and training for youths; keep rural churches open. 
• One person refused the microphone, said the two-minute time limit was ridiculous, and claimed he’d been recently “abused by a priest” non-sexually, when the priest threatened to call the police when the man tried to offer a Prayer of the Faithful.  He then yelled, “You disgust me! The Church disgusts me! The pope disgusts me!”

John Hurley briefly described the work of the MRT, listed the six working groups, and invited attendees to review MRT’s report on the website and sign up to be involved going forward as issues continue to be addressed with the diocese.

BISHOP MALONE’S RESPONSES AND COMMENTS

Bishop Malone summarized what he had heard as “beautiful, though tortured, passion for our Church, expressed with respect and candor”. 

He confirmed that no money from Upon This Rock or Catholic Charities has been or will be used for settlements and noted that already $18 million from reserves has gone to victims.  He mentioned “insurance archaeology,” researching past insurance policies held by parishes on their own, to see what might be recovered from them. 

He then offered this excerpt from that morning’s Divine Office, from a letter from St. Paul to St. Polycarp:

“Work together in harmony,
struggle together,
run together, 
suffer together, 
rest together, 
rise together, 
as stewards, advisors and servants of God.”

Upcoming Parish Listening Sessions:

• Saturday, August 10, 9:30am – 11:30am – Nativity of Our Lord (Orchard Park)
• Saturday, August 17, 9:30am – 11:30am – Holy Trinity Parish (Dunkirk)

Prepared by MRT Organizing Committee Member Nancy Nielsen.

The Initial Report of The Movement to Restore Trust was released July 25, 2019.  Below are links to media coverage of the Report:

Buffalo News: Editorial: Movement to Restore Trust delivers a worthy action plan for dioceses
https://buffalonews.com/2019/08/05/editorial-movement-to-restore-trust-delivers-a-worthy-action-plan/

WKBW, Ch. 7 News: Movement to Restore Trust issues suggested reforms for Diocese
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/movement-to-restore-trust-issues-suggested-reforms-for-diocese

WIVB, Ch. 4 News: Movement to Restore Trust releases new report on handling of clergy sex abuse cases
https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/movement-to-restore-trust-releases-new-report-on-handling-of-clergy-sex-abuse-cases/

WBFO: Movement to Restore Trust releases its complete slate of recommendations
https://news.wbfo.org/post/movement-restore-trust-releases-its-complete-slate-recommendations

Olean Times Herald: Movement to Restore Trust suggests reforms for Buffalo Diocese in wake of sex abuse crisis
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/olean/movement-to-restore-trust-suggests-reforms-for-buffalo-diocese-in/article_ecaf4d65-57eb-5a48-822c-09da695a440b.html

WBEN Radio: Movement to Restore Trust outlines Diocese reforms
https://wben.radio.com/articles/movement-restore-trust-outlines-diocese-reforms

Buffalo News: Group presses for more Buffalo Diocese reforms in abuse cases
https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/25/catholic-group-presses-for-more-diocese-reforms-in-sex-abuse-cases/