Buffalo diocese cautions priests against involvement in parish-closing appeals
October 23, 2024
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CWN Editor's Note: The Diocese of Buffalo, New York has instructed parish priests to avoid involvement in parishioners’ efforts to prevent their parishes from closing.
In a memo reminding priests to be “mindful of their promise of obedience” to their bishop, the diocese told priests that they should not encourage or assist any efforts by their parishioners to appeal the bishop’s decisions . About 70 parishes in Buffalo will be closed in a diocesan consolidation campaign.
The diocese cautioned that parishioners who appeal to the Vatican should not be allowed use of parish funds, facilities, or communications.
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Posted by: feedback -
Oct. 24, 2024 11:01 AM ET USA
This should never be an issue, and if it is, perhaps the bishop should consider listening to his priests who are much closer to the parishes than all the diocesan bureaucrats, lay and clergy, combined? One of the "sins" at the Synod on Synodality was "using doctrine as stones to be hurled," but this is using priestly obedience as a stone to be hurled.
