“I think Father Ryszard had hopes that he could change the diocese from within by continuing to work for the bishop, but he came to realize that nothing was going to change,” O’Connor told The News on Thursday. “Like me, he witnessed all the cover-ups in the way Bishop Malone handled child abuse case. He saw the way Malone spoke in public about these cases, as opposed to how he dealt with them in private. I just don’t think Father could deal with it anymore.”

“One thing the bishop is really good at,” O’Connor added, “is turning people close to him into whistle-blowers.”

In a lengthy interview Thursday evening with two Buffalo News reporters, the priest said he was distressed about the way Malone and other diocese officials handle complaints about sexual abuse by priests.

“At 795 Main, there is no bigger crisis than when the truth comes out,” he said, referring to the diocesan headquarters at the Catholic Center.

"Bishop Malone has to resign because he just does not care about the victims. He is a talented guy in many ways, but he does not care about the victims."

Biernat sobbed as he said those words.