BUFFALO (WBEN) - Bishop Richard Malone's mansion is being sold for the purpose of using the money to compensate victims of clergy abuse.
The residence, which is located at 79 Oakland Place in Buffalo and carries and assessed value of $1.3 million is set to be sold soon. Peter Hunt from Hunt Real Estate says it could sell for close to $2 million.
"We haven't seen a single-family home break the $2 million mark in the City of Buffalo ever that I'm aware of," said Hunt. "But, it's possible that this is the kind of house that could approach that."
Apparently, there is a buyer for the house, but that information is not yet known.
With another property being sold by the Buffalo Diocese, total revenue from the sales could reach as much as $3 million. However, Robert Hoatson, who has taken a lead role in representing and advocating for local victims of clergy sex abuse says the money is nice, but many of the victims need more than dollars.
"The financial settlement is crucial because they don't have to worry where their next meal is going to come from or where their next prescription can be paid for, but it's not the crucial thing," said Hoatson. "The crucial thing is the social services that are necessary to help these people recover like psychotherapy and ongoing psychotherapy."
He added that victims also want to see more leadership out of Malone, and that will go a long way toward their healing.
"The financial settlements that victims receive are always helpful, but the key to their recovery, of course, is that number one - the bishop expresses his sincere apology," said Hoatson. "Number two - that they give victims the resources they need to recover from this."
While Hoatson said it's difficult to say exactly how many victims will be helped through this influx of real estate money, he simply hopes that it's divided in a fair and equitable way.
