December 24, 2007

Vatican upholds decision to merge two Buffalo parishes

The Vatican Congregation for the Clergy has upheld the decision by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec to merge St. Adalbert Parish with St. John Kanty Parish in the City of Buffalo.

The merger was announced in the parishes and by the diocese the weekend of June 30-July 1, 2007.

Three members of the St. Adalbert Parish Council filed an appeal with the congregation, seeking to have the bishop’s decision overturned. But after a thorough review, the congregation decreed, “The petition for recourse as presented has no canonical basis in law and in fact and is hereby rejected both de procedendo and de decernendo” (meaning there were no mistakes in the procedure and in discerning the facts).

The congregation found that Bishop Kmiec followed Canon Law by consulting with the Diocesan Council of Priests before making his decision.

“Now that the Vatican has issued this ruling,” Bishop Kmiec said, “I hope that there will be a smooth, successful merger of these two parishes. The people can work to build a new, healthy, vibrant parish with many more possibilities, using their combined talents and many gifts.”

Plans will now move ahead to merge St. Adalbert with St. John Kanty at the St. John Kanty site. The St. Adalbert worship site will no longer be used. The Response to Love Center will continue to operate at its current location on the St. Adalbert property. The disposition of the remaining buildings and property will be left to the discretion of the merged parish. In two years, the viability of this situation will be evaluated.

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