New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced Nov. 23 that her office is suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo over allegations that church officials covered up charges of sexual misconduct by priests.

The legal action asserts that former Bishop Richard Malone, former Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz and other church leaders allowed priests who had been accused of sexual offenses against children to leave the ministry or retire rather than face disciplinary actions, reported the Associated Press (AP).

“For years, the Diocese of Buffalo and its leadership failed to protect children from sexual abuse,” James said in a media statement. “Instead, they chose to protect the very priests who were credibly accused of these atrocious acts.”

The lawsuit comes after a two-year investigation by the attorney general’s office. James said her office is continuing to investigate some other dioceses in the state.

The AP reported that the Buffalo diocese filed for bank­ruptcy last year. In the filing, church officials cited hundreds of lawsuits filed against it.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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