Embattled Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is again saying on Friday during a radio show that he will not step down, despite growing calls from Catholics for him to do just that.
During the interview, the Bishop said he had a “good” record on child abuse, despite what he calls recent mistakes. He believes his actions as Bishop do not warrant his resignation.
One of the mistakes he refers to involved Father Art Smith.
7 Eyewitness News first broke the story two months ago about how Smith was accused of inappropriate contact with a child and was suspended by a previous Buffalo bishop, only to be returned to ministry by Malone.
For the first time, Bishop Malone admitted he was wrong and attempted to apologize on WBEN.
“I admit my failure there,” said Malone.
Buffalo @BishopRJMalone claims in @NewsRadio930 interview he “was not trying to be vindictive” in statement criticizing whistleblower Siobhan O’Connor.
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
Bishop is asked directly, “Is Father Art Smith a sexual predator?” Does not answer question.
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
“That was a mistake on my part. I kick myself for having done that,” Malone says of writing cruise ship recommendation letter of Fr Smith.
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
On Art Smith, @BishopRJMalone says he put Smith in "limited ministry...but that backfired, too."
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
"I admit my failure there," Malone says.
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
"There have been times...where I have been embarrassed to be a bishop," Buffalo @BishopRJMalone says.
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
"I do not believe so," @BishopRJMalone says when Bauerle asks if he should resign. Says he has a "good" record on child abuse "until these recent" things. Going on about getting a 100% "clean audit."
— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) November 2, 2018
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