BUFFALO, NY-- The Buffalo Catholic Diocese will start a fund for victims of sexual abuse. The voluntary reconciliation and compensation program announcement was made the same week a retired priest admitted to The Buffalo News that he sexually abused dozens of boys.
The fund is for individuals who made claims they were sexually abused by members of the clergy in Buffalo. Buffalo Diocese officials say this program has been in the works for weeks.
Reverend Norbert Orsolits told The Buffalo News that his sexual encounters with teenage boys occurred during the 1970's and 1980's.
“I know this is the right thing to do,” said Bishop Malone in a statement. “The victims and our Church in Western New York cannot move forward until the pain of the past is properly addressed. Over the past year, several other dioceses have launched similar programs and it was well received and appreciated by many of those victims as a form of healing. We pray that this monetary compensation together with the acknowledgment that they were hurt can be a significant step in helping them to heal. If we can help victims to heal, then we as a Church can begin to heal from this awful part of our past.”
VIDEO: Bishop Malone discusses sex abuse claims
The program will be overseen by Former New York State Supreme Court Justices Jerome Gorski and Barbara Howe. They will determine how much each victim will be compensated and the victim will have 60 days to accept or reject the settlement.
“This program is a next step to continue the Diocese’s ongoing commitment to protect children and help victims. In many cases, the Diocese has provided a pastoral response, counseling and other assistance as needed to victims,” said Terrence M. Connors, of Connors LLP, in a statement.
For more information on the Diocese of Buffalo Independent Reconciliation Program, visit www.buffalodiocese.org/ircp