Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) As the Buffalo Diocese continues to navigate the clergy abuse settlement and bankruptcy, there have been several decisions in recent weeks regarding churches that are appealing merger or closure.
Mary Pruski with Save Our Buffalo Churches, said the decisions from the Dicastery of the Clergy are not final, but they are nearly identical in content.
"If any of these parishes end up merging and then closing, any proceeds received from the sales may not be moved by the Diocese into payment for the bankruptcy fund. They need to stay with the assigned parish."
The decrees also upheld the merger plans by the Diocese, due to inaccurate financial data.
Pruski said that's due to parishes submitting appeals several months ago
and the financial data has changed over time.
Save Our Buffalo Churches is continuing to encourage parishioners of the Diocese to keep making donations.
"We have to remember, we are staying true to our Roman Catholic faith which is being in church and receiving the sacrament. We are living in a community of poor leadership. The only way we can fight back is with the Canon Law process. We are planning on being successful but we are staying the course," she added.
Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher, meanwhile, is expected to meet with Vatican officials in Rome sometime this month.
"It's been very quiet, " noted Pruski. "We don't know when he's going. But we know all of our appeals will be on the agenda."