The Diocese of Buffalo, New York, has responded to Catholics who object to its request that their parishes help fund its $150 million settlement with survivors of clergy sex abuse.
According to its news release, the diocese has asked its parishes to cover $80 million of the settlement using unrestricted cash and investments, which excludes prepaid tuition, Mass offerings and donor-restricted gifts.
The diocese has made a specific request of each parish based on how much unrestricted cash and how many investment assets the parish holds. Local NBC affiliate WGRZ reported that one church was asked to give $17,300, while another has been asked to contribute $258,678. One parish, St. Benedict in Eggertsville, was asked to give just under $2 million. The diocese has also taken into account which parishes are set to close or merge, asking those churches to cover more of the settlement.
To parishioners who object to the amount the diocese has asked their parish to contribute or those who feel it is not the parishes’ responsibility to cover such a large portion of the settlement, the diocese has offered an explanation.
“We recognize that some parishes will see the disparity of settlement contribution levels as somehow unfair,” Richard Suchan, the diocese’s chief operating officer, stated in the release.
He added that the amount asked of each parish is carefully calculated, with several factors taken into consideration. The release also disclosed the contribution allocation formula used to determine how much each parish should be able to give.
Suchan stated, “This has been discussed extensively with our priests and parish leaders as an essential approach for fulfilling our obligation to the Creditors’ Committee, and to bring healing to survivors and enable the Church in Western New York to finally close this long and difficult chapter of our Diocese and move forward.”
According to WGRZ, the diocese has given parishes until July 15 to pay their contributions. Mary Pruski, spokesperson for Save Our Buffalo Churches, told the outlet that she is not disputing the amount that victims deserve, but said that the parishes should not be given so much responsibility for the settlement.
She said Save Our Buffalo Churches has filed a formal letter of rejection with Bishop Michael W. Fisher, asking that the diocese consider other options, such as taking out loans. Save Our Buffalo Churches has also contacted Rome and New York Attorney General Letitia James, asking for alternative ways for the diocese to cover the settlement. She has also encouraged parishes to postpone paying their contributions to the settlement until they receive more information.
For its part, the diocese has promised to address parishes’ questions about their requested contributions and make adjustments as warranted.