Prominent Catholic whistle blower, survivors, and law firm expose California Diocesan compensation program
Siobahn O’Connor, former personal assistant to Diocese of Buffalo Bishop Malone will discuss the cover-up of clergy sexual abuse.
Releasing a summary of the diocesan compensation programs for clergy sexual abuse.
Survivor Christopher Szuflita will discuss his abuse by a Diocese of Buffalo priest, the Diocese handling of his reports, and his decision to reject a settlement offer under the Diocese’s compensation program.
Survivor Thomas Davis will discuss his abuse by a Diocese of Brooklyn priest and determination by the compensation program that his claim was unsubstantiated.
California diocesan compensation programs were criticized as payout systems that preserve secrecy rather than uncover the full truth. Speakers said survivors are pressured to accept money in exchange for releasing future claims, while bishops keep control of the process and withhold key facts about accused priests, prior reports, and institutional decisions. They argued that civil litigation offers a stronger path to accountability and can still protect survivor privacy.
Survivors and advocates used New York’s experience as a warning for California. Tom Davis and Christopher Szuflita described feeling dismissed or underinformed in church-run claims processes, while whistleblower Siobhan O’Connor said the Buffalo program was poorly handled and more focused on institutional protection than survivor healing. The overall message was that these programs are limited, incomplete, and no substitute for real transparency.