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CV NEWS FEED // The Diocese of Buffalo has decided to delay announcing which parishes will close or merge in light of opposition from parish families regarding the downsizing plan.
CatholicVote reported that the Diocese was scheduled to list the names of the shuttered churches on September 1. However, several “parish families,” as groups of the affected parishes are called, began meeting with the Diocese in mid-August to articulate why their churches should remain open.
According to local outlet WKBW, the Diocese had said in May that it planned to close 34% of 160 parishes. Among the reasons for closing them were smaller numbers of attendees at Mass, a lack of priests, and the Diocese’s bankruptcy filing in 2020.
According to an August 30 news release from Bishop Michael Fisher, 52 counterproposals were made.
“Following the counter proposal meetings, our diocesan review panel reviewed those counter proposals and then recommendations were presented for consultation with the Presbyteral Council which is an advisory body to me,” Bishop Fisher stated. “The Diocese is now evaluating changes to our initial recommendation of mergers and closures in 26 of our 36 families of parishes.”
Bishop Fisher said that the Diocese needs additional time for the evaluation and added that a decision would hopefully be announced by the end of the first week of September or the beginning of the second week of the month.
He concluded:
I appreciate the patience of our faithful as we work diligently to decide on the future number of parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo. As always, you remain in my prayers, and I ask for your prayers as well.
