The Catholic Church in Buffalo covered up sex abuse claims, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged in a new lawsuit that comes on the heels of a two-year probe.

“For years, the Diocese of Buffalo and its leadership failed to protect children from sexual abuse,” James said in a statement. “Instead, they chose to protect the very priests who were credibly accused of these atrocious acts.”

The Diocese of Buffalo and its former senior leaders allegedly didn’t properly investigate claims of sexual abuse of children; didn’t refer priests with credible accusations against them to the Vatican; and didn’t properly monitor priests they believed to have committed abuse, the AG’s Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit from Monday alleges.

This was despite the fact that the diocese’s former Bishop Emeritus Richard Malone and former Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz had voted in favor of a 2002 policy in the United States Conference of Bishops to take swift action with regard to these types of claims.

James’ office conducted a two-year investigation into the diocese, allegedly finding it violated nonprofit laws when it didn’t identify more than two dozen priests to the Vatican for potential removal — resulting in the misuse of charitable funds.

The AG wants a judge to force the diocese to comply with sexual abuse policies and to appoint an independent compliance monitor. She is also seeking to hold Malone and Grosz — who resigned amid the AG’s investigation — personally responsible for restitution and to bar them from working in financial positions in nonprofits in the future.

James also wants a judge to allow her to disclose the names of the priests whom the diocese allegedly shielded. While the diocese has released a list of their names, James needs a judge’s blessing since they are not defendants in her suit.

“Individuals who are victims of abuse deserve to have their claims timely investigated and determined, and the Buffalo Diocese refused to give them that chance,” James said. “While we will never be able to undo the wrongs of the past, I can guarantee that my office will do everything in its power to ensure trust, transparency, and accountability moving forward.”

Steve Boyd, a lawyer who’s filed over 200 lawsuits against the Buffalo Diocese on behalf of victims, alongside firm Jeff Anderson & Associates, applauded James for bringing the lawsuit, saying it “finally puts children first.”

The New York Child Victims Act, which went into effect last year, allowed victims of childhood abuse to bring legal claims regardless of when their abuse occurred. This has led to a drove of new lawsuits against the Catholic Church in New York.

The Diocese of Buffalo — as well as the Dioceses of Rockville Centre and Rochester — filed for bankruptcy as a result mounting lawsuits against each.

The diocese did not immediately return a request for comment. Malone and Grosz could not immediately be reached for comment.