WKBW: Recordings of Bishop Malone emerge

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Photo credit Tim Wenger

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Another whistleblower has come forward in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and has provided 'secret' recordings of Bishop Richard Malone that reveal the head of the diocese fears the story could lead to his ouster.

The recordings were released by the Bishop's secretary, Rev. Ryszard Biernat, who was recently placed on administrative leave.  In an interview with WKBW and reporter Charlie Specht, Father Biernat joins a growing chorus in asking that Bishop Malone resign.

The recordings center around allegations of love letters and claims of sexual harassment by diocesan priest Jeffrey Nowak and involve both Biernat and seminarian Matthew Bojanowski.

“We are in a true crisis situation,” @BishopRJMalone said last month in secret audio recordings obtained by the @WKBW I-Team. “And everyone in the office is convinced this could be the end for me as bishop. @FBIBuffalo @Pontifex @roccopalmo https://t.co/ngPsuU7u4F

— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) September 4, 2019

“We are in a true crisis situation,” Malone says on the recordings. “True crisis. And everyone in the office is convinced this could be the end for me as bishop. It could force me to resign if in fact they make a story.”

Attorney Jeff Anderson of Anderson & Associates calls the recordings extraordinary.  "They are certainly admissible in court. They capture Malone's mindset". Anderson, who is working on behalf of clergy abuse victims, said this is evidence that is rarely obtained. "His own words demonstrate the state of mind behind those actions. And the state of mind revealed in this recording is that he cares more about his position, his stature and protection of his priests than anything else."