BUFFALO (NY)
The Daily News [Batavia NY]
June 11, 2025
By Matt Surtell
A series of meetings this week is detailing how much individual parishes will owe as part of the Diocese of Buffalo’s settlement with sexual abuse victims.
Diocesean officials are meeting with clergy, trustees, business managers, and chairpersons of financial and parish councils.
Parish leaders are being provided an overview of the proposed $150 million settlement, which has been agreed to in principle, the diocese said.
Each parish will receive a detailed statement of its expected contribution to the settlement fund, officials said. It’s based on the parishes’ self-reported and unrestricted assets held as of Aug. 31, 2024.
“As we have maintained throughout this protracted process, the participation of the entire Catholic family is necessary to bring to a close this painful chapter of our Diocese and achieve a level of restitution that is owed to the many who have had to carry the tremendous burden of physical, emotional and spiritual harm of sexual abuse throughout their lives,” said Bishop Michael W. Fisher in a statement.
Contribution percentages will range from 10 to 80 percent of each parish’s unrestricted cash. The highest percentage will be applied to parishes scheduled to be closed or merged as part of the diocese’s Road to Renewal restructuring.
Parishes appealing their closure to the Vatican through the petition process are still assessed at 80 percent of their unrestricted cash, the diocese said.
If the appeal is successful and the closure decision is overturned, the parish will be refunded the difference between the 80 percent assessment and the rate that would have otherwise been applied, diocesean officials said.
Parishes appealing their closures include Ascension Parish in Batavia and St. Brigid in Bergen.
All payments are required to be received by the Diocese by July 15. They will be held in reserve until the settlement is confirmed by the federal bankruptcy court.
Parish contributions from the process will total $80 million of the $150 million settlement. Additional funding is expected from the diocese, affiliate Catholic organizations, real estate sale proceeds.
Proceeds from insurance coverage would be in addition to those totals.
The Diocese of Buffalo became notorious internationally when sexual abuse cover-ups were revealed in Roman Catholic parishes across the U.S. At least 15 priests who served in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties were accused of molesting children over decades.
Multiple molestations and rapes were often attributed to the same priests, who were repeatedly transferred to other parishes within the diocese. Criminal charges were rarely filed among those accused the GLOW region.
The diocese filed for bankruptcy in February 2020. The financial pressures were among the factors which led to multiple parish closures and mergers over the past year.