BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — The Diocese of Buffalo has started to ask affiliates to help pay for its $150 million settlement with more than 800 survivors of sexual abuse.
The settlement involves parishes and schools connected to decades of abuse by clergy, lay employees, religious and volunteers within the eight counties of Western New York.
We have learned the diocese has been meeting with affiliates and is expected to meet with priests and parishes next week to explain the percentages parishes would be responsible for paying.
"Why do we have to pay this. We're not the ones at fault here,” said Nandor Forgach, a parishioner at St. Benedict Church.
The diocese sent me a statement saying it is working on a plan to satisfy the settlement and that it has "begun the process of internally communicating that plan to our clergy, parishes, and affiliates."
You can read the full statement below.
"The Diocese has been working diligently on the April 22nd settlement in principle reached with the Creditors' Committee to design a plan to allow, the diocese, its parishes, and Catholic affiliates to satisfy the agreed to $150 million settlement. We have begun the process of internally communicating that plan to our clergy, parishes, and affiliates. Meetings continue next week."
One of the affiliates includes the Catholic Cemeteries.
“No. None of us wants to pay for it, but it's got to end,” said Tom Christy, director, Catholic Cemeteries.
Christy told me the diocese came to his board of directors, but he could not disclose the amount the diocese requested; he described it as “reasonable."
"But I guess I was impressed by the ask being so reasonable, in that they didn't ask an amount that would put us out of business, force layoffs, cancel projects," Christy said. "It does affect us. It will hurt this year, but it won't hurt going forward.”
Christy explained the diocese will not touch the Catholic Cemeteries' permanent maintenance funding, so it would be able to care for all their grounds in perpetuity.
“They considered that off limits," Christy said. "They will not touch that, which is really a huge thing. So they made an ask, which was reasonable out of operating funds.”
Other affiliates asked to contribute to the settlement include Catholic Charities, Our Lady of Victory Charities and the Foundation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
The Foundation sent our request for comment to the diocese. OLV declined to comment.
Parishioners at catholic churches across Western New York are expected to find out next week what the diocese expects them to contribute.
"I’m a little bit discouraged by the fact that we have to pay for sins that weren't committed by us,” said Forgach.
“I know we're going to have to have our share of the payment to do it and a lot of us feel that we just need to pay it, go get past this and move on and move forward,” Forgach said.
Sources sent me screenshots showing a series of vicariate meetings set for next week, with each parish expected to receive an invoice.
All this would still require final bankruptcy court approval.
