BUFFALO, NY - The lingering scandal of sexual abuse by priests, and how the scandal has been handled, has clearly cost Bishop Malone support among Catholics. He has also lost the backing of at least some priests within the Buffalo Diocese.
With a smile, Malone said he answered "no" when asked by two priests to resign.
This happened during Monday's closed-door meeting between the Bishop and priests of the Buffalo Diocese. What Malone did not say, was who the two priests were.
Tuesday, 2 On Your Side found out.
We asked, "We know that priests were talking about your resignation in that meeting in there because they disclosed it. What did you tell them?"
To which the Bishop replied, "There were...there were maybe...there were two, who spoke out." He added, in his opinion, there was no ground-swell against him.
Now, 2 On Your Side can confirm that two Diocesan priests asked the Bishop to resign: Father Jack Ledwon of St. Joseph's University Parish, and retired priest, Father James Judge.
The Bishop mentioned applause he got from priests at the meeting, but didn't mention that Ledwon and Judge were applauded as well.
Previously, both Father Robert Zilliox and Father Paul Seil have publicly said it is time for Bishop Malone to go. But at the end of the day, the Bishop wields power in the Diocese.
Even if priests object in large number to Malone staying on as Bishop, the authority to remove him is only in the hands of Pope Francis himself.