The Buffalo Catholic Diocese has appointed a new Controller and three new lay members to its Finance Council. Bishop Richard Malone said the appointments are a "positive" result of the Movement to Restore Trust asserting financial transparency by the diocese, as well as the laity’s rightful role in the church.
The new appointments will be responsible for approving and monitoring the diocese's operating budget and advising the bishop on financial affairs.
Malone said Beverly Barter - most recently an accounting manager with BHS Foodservice Solutions who also worked several years at the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT - has been named Controller. Hartford is on eo fmany dioceses that have been under attack for its handling of sexual abuse incidents.
Three other lay people have been named to the Diocesan Finance Council: Maureen Ludwig, managing director of state regulatory affairs with Deloitte LLP; Carrie Frank, principal and consultant at Frank Executive Solutions; and Frederick Attea, senior counsel with Phillips Lytle LLP.
With these appointments, the Finance Council now has seven lay members and five clergy members.
Malone also named James Beardi, former M&T Bank President and CEO of Mortgage Banking, as chairperson of the Finance Council. He is the first lay person to hold the position in the history of the diocese. Beardi also led the MRT workgroup that ultimately came up with financial recommendations to the bishop.
