Bishop Richard Malone will not march in Buffalo's annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

The Diocese released a statement Friday night, saying in part:

"To prevent the Saint Patrick's Day Parade from being used as a platform to address unrelated issues - however important those issues may be - Bishop Malone, with immense regret, has decided not to march in the Parade this year.

"The Parade is an event that honors Saint Patrick and the Irish Catholic heritage and celebrates the many contributions of the Irish people and their descendants to Western New York.  It is not the proper forum for controversy."

Father David Richards will march in Malone's place.

The United Irish American Association had asked Malone to lead the parade, despite the clergy abuse scandal rocking Buffalo's Catholic Diocese.

An online petition against Malone's involvement also circulated.

Malone will still celebrate mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral at 10:30 a.m. before the parade starts at 2 p.m.