A New York Lawmaker Wants State Police to Investigate the Diocese of Buffalo. Here Is What Survivors Should Know Right Now

Reviewed by Abuse Justice Center · Updated 2026-07-26

Why One Lawmaker Wants a Dedicated Investigation

Assemblymember Patrick Burke publicly called on New York State Police to take the lead on investigating child sexual abuse tied to the Diocese of Buffalo, arguing that criminal investigations into diocese-related misconduct have historically been scattered across local police departments without coordination. He sent a formal letter asking a State Police troop commander in Western New York to help organize a more centralized response.

Burke has said that many priests he personally knew growing up in the diocese were later credibly accused of child sexual abuse, and framed the request as an effort to stop what he described as an institution that has, in his words, moved accused clergy from parish to parish rather than confronting them.

The Arrest That Triggered the Request

Burke's call came shortly after federal investigators arrested a Diocese of Buffalo priest on charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. According to reporting, the priest had reportedly been on administrative leave since 2019 over separate conduct concerns, and the diocese has said it was not previously aware of allegations involving child exploitation material against him.

The FBI's involvement reportedly began after Scottish officials flagged a Telegram group where members were viewing exploitative material together over video calls, an international thread that eventually led investigators back to the priest in New York.

A Diocese Already Defined by Scale

The Diocese of Buffalo has been working through Chapter 11 bankruptcy for years, and its case already includes close to 900 filed abuse claims, with a proposed settlement fund of roughly $273.9 million on the table, a figure that has grown over time as more insurers have been brought into the deal. Attorney fees alone are projected at nearly $91.8 million of that total.

Those numbers reflect a diocese with a long, well-documented history of abuse claims well before this latest arrest, which is part of why Burke and others argue that a single new criminal case should not be treated as an isolated incident.

What Survivors Can Do Without Waiting on Any Investigation

A state police task force, if it happens at all, would take time to organize and would not, by itself, compensate any individual survivor. Civil claims against the diocese, an individual parish, or another Catholic institution in New York do not depend on that investigation moving forward, or on any new criminal charges being filed against anyone.

If you were abused by clergy or another Catholic institution employee in New York, whether or not that person is connected to this specific case, an attorney can review your situation confidentially, explain how the state's expanded filing deadlines may apply, and tell you whether your claim could be part of the diocese's existing bankruptcy process or pursued separately.

5 Things Survivors Connected to This Diocese Should Understand

News of a new arrest or a lawmaker's call for investigation can bring old memories back to the surface. Here is what matters if that is happening to you right now.

1. A bankruptcy does not erase your right to be heard: Survivors can typically still file claims within an active Chapter 11 case, though there are deadlines that make timing important.
2. You do not need this specific priest as your accused person: Claims connected to any priest, employee, or volunteer of the diocese can potentially be part of the same process.
3. A political call for investigation is not a legal remedy: A request for a task force is a public accountability step, not a substitute for an individual civil claim.
4. New York's filing deadlines have already been extended for many survivors: State law changes in recent years opened the door for claims that would once have been considered too old.
5. A confidential consultation costs nothing: Attorneys who handle these claims typically work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost to find out where you stand.

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