Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Catholic Diocese says an independent audit finds it is in full compliance with written commandments to child protection. This was part of a settlement with the State Attorney General's Office.
An independent auditor has concluded after a comprehensive and transparent audit of the Diocese of Buffalo “that the Diocese is compliant with all of the Commitments” which memorialize child-protection policies in the Diocese.
The Diocese agreed to these Commitments with the New York Office of the Attorney General, as part of the settlement of a lawsuit in October 2022.
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The Diocese says this confirms its "rigorous policies and protocols that it has put in place over the past several years are working to keep all children and vulnerable adults safe." The Compliance Audit Report, posted on the diocesan website, was drafted by the Independent Auditor Kinsale Management Consulting.
"Their efforts have been thorough, and they have brought considerable professional skill and experience to this audit process," noted Bishop Michael Fisher in a statement. "The auditor and her independent audit team interviewed the full range of Diocesan personnel who are responsible for executing the Diocese’s child-protection policies, every member of the Independent Review Board, and made several on-site visits to the Diocese’s administrative offices and to other locations throughout the Diocese."
Kathleen McChesney, Ph.D., who led the independent audit team, confirmed that the Diocese fully cooperated with the audit, and there were “no limitations imposed on the auditor by the Diocese in any manner throughout the audit.” The independent auditor included in the report a series of tables to detail the Diocese’s compliance with the Commitments.
An appendix, “Dates of Alleged Abuse by Accused Clerics and Former Clerics,” shows that there were no complaints of abuse that occurred during the audit period— December 2022 through December 2023. Rather, all of the complaints that were addressed during the audit period concerned alleged abuse which occurred more than 20 years ago.
The Diocese adds this shows the child-protection policies have been successful. The diocese says claims of past misconduct have all been treated seriously by the Diocese and in complete compliance with the Diocese’s child-protection policies.
The Diocese says it also continues to look forward to ensure that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
"The auditor’s conclusion that the Diocese is in compliance with each of the child-protection policies and procedures embodied in the [settlement agreement’s] 29 Commitments is an important step in the Diocese’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. We will continue to support and provide assistance to those who have been harmed. We pray for their healing and forgiveness for what they have endured," Bishop Fisher concluded.