Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Five parishes are suing the Diocese of Buffalo to prevent the use of parish funds for a $150 million settlement with child sex abuse survivors. Attorneys James I. Myers and John Flaherty are representing the churches in this lawsuit.
"The immediate basis is we want to stop the payment of 80% of the unrestricted funds going from our clients to the diocese, because it would severely hamper, harm and potentially destroy the existence of the parishes," Myers tells WBEN.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Blessed Sacrament in Tonawanda, Our Lady of Peace in Clarence, St. Bernadette in Orchard Park, St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Cheektowaga and St. John XXIII in West Seneca. All of the churches are planned to merge with other parishes under the diocese's restructuring plan.
Mary Pruski with Save Our Buffalo Churches says that this lawsuit intends to get the churches to stop, pause and wait to see what happens if Rome intervenes.
"We're hoping that this will buy us some time and see if we can come to a more equitable amount that these churches can afford to give, and see if this still can right side the ship on settling this bankruptcy suit," says Pruski.
When asked if Myers and Flaherty can win the case, Myers says they will take on any case that has merit, and they believe this lawsuit has "substantial merit."
"We feel very strongly. Our clients feel very strongly," says Myers. "They are stable, vibrant parishes, and we do not believe that there is a need for the taking of the funds, certainly not at this time since all of them have petitioned the Vatican and the Vatican has issued a suspension of the merger decree that was issued by the bishop."