BUFFALO (NY)
WBEN NewsRadio [Buffalo NY]
June 5, 2025
By Susan Rose
The Diocese of Buffalo is preparing to ask parishes and other Catholic affiliates to contribute to help pay a $150 million settlement with more than 800 sexual abuse survivors.
Parishes will be getting invoices next week after a series of vicariate meetings.
“We will find out next Tuesday,” Nandor Forgach told WBEN. He is an active parishioner at St. Benedict’s Church in Eggertsville. “It’s looking like a good portion of money will be coming from each parish. Some are in better standing than others. They’ll be able to survive it. But others will be hurt by it.”
Forgach says nothing is confirmed, but he has heard rumors that it’s
going to be a percentage, north of 50% of parishes’ reserve funds and weekly collections.
“I’m really not OK with this,” he said. “I feel like we’re paying for the sins of our church leadership who horribly mishandled this abuse scandal. I don’t know if there’s any recourse for parishes not to pay.”
Forgach adds it would be great to see what the Diocese is kicking in, versus the individual parishes.
Catholic Charities is among other Catholic affiliates expected to contribute.
“I was very surprised to hear that Catholic Charities is being asked to pay for a portion of the settlement as well,” Forgach said. “I think there’s going to be fallout from this. People are going to be angry and upset for what we are being asked to do for sins that a lot of parishes did not commit.”
Despite all of this, Forgach says he tells people all the time, don’t stop going to church.
“Just because Diocese leadership is dead, it’s not reflective of what is going on in our local parishes. Our parishes communities are becoming stronger than ever and they’re vibrant communities,” he said.
Forgach noted that St. Benedict’s school is at maximum capacity for next school year.
“That’s how much interest there is in Catholic education,” he pointed out.