Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A local parishioner, though learning his children's school will remain open, remains concerned about the Buffalo Catholic Diocese's "Road to Renewal" decisions. He says, in particular, he's concerned about the process.
Nandor Forgach says St. Benedict's School, where his children attend, will stay open. However, he found out some news that there's some planning going on about the future of Catholic education and the schools in Western New York.
"We felt blindsided by the Diocese, as we believe that these conversations were not going to take place until a year from now, in 2025. So to come to a meeting this past Tuesday and find out there are plans need to be submitted by Oct. 31," said Forgach with WBEN.
He says parents are the last to find out, and there are no conversations about it.
Forgach is imploring the Diocese to sit down and start talking and engaging their parishioners, and talking to the parents who are sending their kids to school.
"I don't even know who is making the decisions at the Diocese, but I can guarantee they don't have children at the school, at any of the schools," Forgach said.
Forgach had to go through social media to hear from the Diocese.
"I have gotten a response from them, granted, not exactly what I wanted to hear. They've offered to get together with a group of us and meet with us, and start discussing some of our points," Forgach said. "I have a lack of faith within our leadership at the Diocese level, that they will learn from their mistakes. And I feel like they're just continuing to work business as usual without learning from their previous mistakes, becoming more transparent and really engaging the parishioners the way that they should."
He believes parishioners are moving to other religions so they don't have to deal with the lack of transparency and have these trust issues with leadership.
Forgach says his faith is, at a point, where people need to start to band together and rebuild as Catholics, rather than fighting each other.
"If there's one thing that Catholics are good at is stepping on each other's toes and not working together, and fighting each other. We need to learn from other faiths, other religions," he said.
