The diocese has seen a steady exodus from the pews and a decline in donations, local Catholics said. A poll conducted by The Buffalo News in September showed that 86 percent of local Catholics wanted Bishop Malone gone. The bishop of Albany, Edward B. Scharfenberger, will be the temporary administrator of the diocese, the Vatican said. Bishop Malone’s resignation was first reported on Monday by Whispers in the Loggia, a blog run by Rocco Palmo , a church analyst. He called Bishop Malone’s resignation “reluctant at best.”

Source: New York Times December 04, 2019 11:17 UTC