The Vatican Dicastery for Clergy recently ruled that the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, did not follow canon law procedures when it requested that eight parishes contribute millions of dollars toward the diocese’s settlement with clergy sex abuse survivors, according to local media.
The Buffalo News reported that the dicastery’s decision responds to eight appeals from parishioners who opposed the use of large portions of their parishes’ cash going toward the settlement. The diocese had asked the eight parishes to contribute a combined total of more than $8 million, with one parish being asked to pay $5.2 million.
According to the outlet, the dicastery found that Bishop Michael Fisher of Buffalo “failed to follow proper canon law procedures, and it ordered the return of any transferred parish money.”
The outlet noted that the diocese has said no funds have been received from the parishes.
The missing procedures cited in the ruling include documented pastor consultations with the parishes’ financial councils and votes by the College of Consultators, according to The Buffalo News. The diocese was also reportedly required to get Vatican approval before asking parishes to contribute more than $3.5 million.
Father Peter Santandreau, the diocese’s vice chancellor, told The Buffalo News that the diocese was planning to conduct those procedures once the diocese was closer to exiting bankruptcy and moving the money from parish-controlled accounts earmarked for the settlement to the actual settlement fund.
As Zeale News previously reported, the full settlement is $150 million, and the diocese itself has promised to pay $40 million. The rest of the funds will come from affiliate organizations, real estate sales, and the diocese’s insurers.
The diocese has said that it will still be able to pay the settlement, regardless of the dicastery’s order.
“These decisions in no way affect the settlement plan, nor the Diocese’s commitment to fulfilling the terms it has pledged to bring about a sense of closure and restitution to the many victim-survivors of sexual abuse,” diocesan spokesman Gregory Tucker told The Buffalo News.
Tucker also said that the diocese still expects the parishes to contribute to the settlement in exchange for protection from being specifically targeted by clergy abuse claimants.
According to The Buffalo News, 20 similar appeals from parishioners are pending review from the dicastery.