An independent audit of the Diocese of Buffalo shows that the diocese is in full compliance with its child protection policies.
The diocese agreed to several commitments with New York State Attorney General Letitia James, including appointing a child protection policy coordinator, when it settled a lawsuit in 2022.
The audit confirms the diocese now has rigorous policies and protocols in place to keep all children and vulnerable adults safe.
In a statement in the report, Bishop Michael W. Fisher noted, “Their efforts have been thorough, and they have brought considerable professional skill and experience to this audit process. The auditor and her independent audit team interviewed the full range of diocesan personnel who are responsible for executing the diocese’s child-protection policies, every member of the Independent Review Board, and made several on-site visits to the diocese’s administrative offices and to other locations throughout the diocese.”
The report was drafted by the Independent Auditor Kinsale Management Consulting. Dr. Kathleen McChesney, who led the independent audit team, confirmed that the diocese fully cooperated with the audit and there were “no limitations imposed on the auditor by the Diocese in any manner throughout the audit.”
The full Compliance Audit Report is available here.