When he was installed as the bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo in January, Bishop Michael Fisher was entering a diocese that had seen more than its share of turmoil. It had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and its previous bishop resigned amid
Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said Feb. 22 a lawsuit filed against him in New Jersey Superior Court over a claim of abuse that allegedly occurred decades ago "is defamatory."
"I did not abuse the accuser or anyone else in my 50-year ministry as
Nobody said it was going to be easy in being placed in charge of a diocese where "60 Minutes" did a story on the contentious handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations, with the diocese later declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Still, while acknowledging "a
Pope Francis has named Bishop Michael W. Fisher, an auxiliary bishop of Washington since June 2018, to head the Diocese of Buffalo, New York.
Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of Albany, New York, has been apostolic administrator of Buffalo since Dec. 4, 2019. Pope
Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo, has launched a broad-based initiative focused on reenvisioning the mission of the Catholic Church of western New York "and bringing about diocesan-wide renewal," according to a May 22 diocesan news release.
Facing dozens of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by clergy, the Diocese of Buffalo has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The diocese announced the action in a news release as attorneys filed the case Feb. 28 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
Citing annual operating losses and declining enrollment, the Diocese of Buffalo announced it will close its seminary at the end of the academic year. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of Albany, New York, apostolic administrator of the diocese, said Feb. 4 that Christ
Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, said late Oct. 3 he welcomes an apostolic visitation by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, New York. News of the visitation, which will include "a review of the Diocese of Buffalo," came via a