Adobe Stock
Several Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, do not have to make payments to the diocese’s $150 million clergy sex abuse settlement for the time being, a state Supreme Court judge ruled last week.
CatholicVote previously reported that the parishes sued the diocese after the diocese requested that they contribute up to $80 million of the settlement. The parishes pushed back against the large sums of money they were asked to give, arguing that they would be “unable to adequately function and serve their community,” according to the lawsuit.
The parishes are also waiting to hear back from the Vatican after appealing planned mergers in the diocese, and therefore claim they should not be required to pay into the settlement until they know whether their parishes will be combined with others.
“Under the diocese’s Road to Renewal plan, each of the five parishes faces potential consolidation,” CatholicVote reported. “As part of the financial strategy, parishes designated for merger must allocate 80% of their unrestricted cash to help meet the settlement deadline set for July 15.”
The Observer reported that state Supreme Court Justice John DelMonte temporarily halted the parishes’ obligation to pay into the settlement, giving the parishes a respite until Aug. 6. According to the order, he found that paying the money would result in “immediate and irreparable injury, loss and damage to the plaintiffs.”
The Observer added that the parishes also argue the $150 million settlement violates New York law because it has not yet been approved by the bankruptcy court.
CatholicVote previously reported that the diocese has refused to comment on the parishes’ lawsuit, saying that it has a policy of refraining from discussing ongoing legal proceedings. However the diocese issued a statement in June responding to parishes that objected to helping pay for the settlement, explaining the formula used to determine how much each parish is asked to contribute.
