BUFFALO, N.Y. — Bishop Richard Malone had been scheduled to host a listening session on Wednesday night at Niagara University.
That event will not happen.
The Diocese of Buffalo issued a statement Thursday night, saying that "after internal discussions," the university decided not to host the event.
"Therefore, the event has been canceled," the statement read. "We apologize for any inconvenience. It is our hope to reschedule sometime in the future."
Niagara University issued a statement Thursday night.
"As a leading Catholic university in Western New York, we fully supported the Movement to Restore Trust, and commend the work they have completed. However, with the news of the recent weeks, we notified the diocese this morning that hosting this discussion on our campus would not be productive or appropriate.
"Now is the time for all leaders of the Catholic Church to focus less on the institution of the church, and more on the people it serves, particularly the most vulnerable among us. It is a time of accountability and action. We must ensure that we create a healthy and safe environment for the people in our community, and to engage in advocacy and to give a voice to survivors of any claim of sexual misconduct in the church or in our society."
And at Canisius College, The Griffin, the student newspaper, reported that Bishop Malone withdrew from the sesquicentennial Mass on at 4:30 p.m. on September 14 at St. Joseph Cathedral.