BUFFALO, N.Y. — An online petition is calling for the resignation of the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York – who has so far resisted all calls to resign.
Weeks after elected local and state officials called for Bishop Richard Malone to resign over his handling of sexual abuse allegations against members of the clergy, some parishioners are now doing the same in an online petition.
WIVB-TV reports the petition says Malone “remains stubbornly indignant” in his complete refusal to resign from his leadership position in the Catholic Church, and calls his reputation “irreparably tainted.”
Malone, the former leader of the Catholic Church in Maine, has previously said criticism of church leadership is “justified,” but maintained he will not leave his position until his retirement in 2021.
New York’s attorney general is currently investigating the Catholic Church’s handling of sex abuse allegations in the state.
Malone served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland from 2004 until 2012.
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