Published: February 28, 2008 01:29 am      

CHURCH MERGERS: Bishop hopes St. Mary's reconsiders appeal

While St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is pursuing an appeal to avoid a mandated merger with three other Lockport parishes, the Diocese of Buffalo announced that a merger in Buffalo has been upheld by the Vatican.

The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest canonical court, ruled that St. John Kanty and St. Adalbert must merge. The decree was written Feb. 13 and delivered Monday.

“The recourse presented has been rejected,” the Supreme Tribunal said.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec noted that at least two other groups of parishioners are considering appealing recent merger decisions to the Vatican.

St. Mary’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Anthony’s and St. Patrick’s were to merge into one parish, All Saints. St. Joseph’s, St. Anthony’s and St. Patrick’s complied and now have services at the church on Church Street. St. Mary’s is appealing.

“The Vatican has twice decreed that we have followed Canon Law in our merger decisions,” Kmiec stated in a press release. “I hope that parishioners will reconsider their appeals and work to build new, stronger, more vibrant faith communities.”

The date of the bishop’s directive to close St. Mary’s was Feb. 3. St. Mary’s responded within 10 days, and the diocese has 30 days to study the appeal.

St. Mary’s parishioners have hired a canon lawyer, Philip Gray of Professional Canonical Services. However, the fees may be prohibitively high.

According to the Professional Canonical Services Web site, the Canonical Consultation fee is $125 per hour. Clients are responsible for all travel expenses, including lodging and meals. If travel is required, there is an administration fee of $35. Travel fees range from a minimum of $400 and to a maximum of $800 a day.

The diocese has had ongoing communication with Gray and the parishioners who are seeking appeal. Meanwhile, St. Mary’s will remain open.

The parishioners can appeal to the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy. The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the final court of appeals in the Roman Catholic Church.

St. Adalbert’s appealed to the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy on July 1. The bishop’s decision was upheld in December.

Kmiec stated: “I hope parishioners will open their hearts and help to make their merged parish one that Catholics of tomorrow will remember with the same fondness that they will remember St. Adalbert’s.”

Transfiguration of Olean and St. Mary’s have notified the diocese that they are in the process of appealing the merger decisions to the Vatican. Transfiguration is scheduled to become an oratory as part of the merger with St. John’s in Olean and St. Helen’s in Hinsdale.