Newsletter August 14, 2025

Two big updates!

First, notes from a Special Meeting of St John's Corporate Board.

A special meeting of the corporate board of St. John's Olean was called by the Diocese for August 4, 2025.  The board of directors consists of Bishop Fisher, Vicar General Father Karalus, Father Chris Emminger, Carol Stitt, and Dan Butler.  The agenda was as follows: Discussion and vote on the parish resolution to make a contribution to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy settlement of the Diocese of Buffalo.

Here is what was reported from the meeting:

The meeting was called to order and a quorum was confirmed, having all members of the board present. The amount of the settlement, $150 million was confirmed and the sources of that amount were discussed.  The sources are:

• The Diocese - up to $40 million

• Parishes - $80 million

• Affiliates - to be determined

• Sales of Diocesan Assets - Up to $40 million

• Insurance - to be determined

The resolution, a legal document, was read aloud. The prime action in the resolution was the payment of $211,800.  At that point Father Chris made a motion to accept the resolution.  It was seconded by Bishop Fisher.  A vote was then held with Bishop Fisher, Father Chris, and Vicar General Karalus voting yes.  Carol and Dan [Butler] voted no.  Dan acted as the spokesperson for St. John's during the meeting.  A discussion was then held where the Vicar General indicated the vote passes, as only a simple majority is required.  This was challenged by Dan Butler who indicated that his understanding was that a super majority (67%) was required for the vote to pass.  I attended a meeting in Buffalo on 8/12 and Save Our Buffalo Churches is confident that the super majority is required and that the bankruptcy court will agree.  Per attendees at the civil court proceeding on 8/12, the super majority (67% requirement) was discussed.  Philip Gray (St. Joseph Foundation) said that the super majority issue is expected to be reviewed in both the Bankruptcy proceedings and the Civil Case that is in process.  He is confident the ruling will be for the super majority.  There is no precise timeframe in either case.

Additional conversation was held with Dan saying civil action may be the next step by St. John's to stop this from moving forward.  This may lead to an additional meeting of the Board.  Dan reminded the bishop that we made an earlier offer to pay the full amount in exchange for the mandate being rescinded and St. John's assured at least 10 years as a parish.   Dan also offered a 25% payment for two to three years of parish status.  These were rejected by the bishop.  Dan also made several attempts to offer to pay the full amount or some percentage, 25% instead of the 80% the diocese assigned, since there was no prior discussion with the St. John's Board.  The Bishop stood firm that the payment must be 80% and must happen now in order to fulfill the bankruptcy settlement.  Dan discussed several times the extremely negative effect the Diocesan decisions are having on our Catholic community during this process.  The Diocese indicated that the bankruptcy settlement is the focus above everything else.

It remains to be seen if/when the Diocese can access and take the $211,800 that was assessed against St. John's.  In the meantime, all appeal options remain active.  The Diocese confirmed that if St. John's wins its appeal to remain a parish, the $211,800 will be amended to 25% or roughly $66,000 and the balance will be returned to St. John's.  The assessment will have a separate appeal sent to the Dicastery in Rome.  Regardless of the outcome of this assessment amount, St. John's continues to be a parish currently (while the appeal is in process) and is financially viable, even if the $211,800 is taken.  Dan has received the minutes of the meeting so they can be reviewed.

Here are other items from the meeting in Buffalo with SOBC and Philip Gray:

• Philip Gray attended a conference in St. Louis recently that included a top member of the Dicastery.  NY (Buffalo Diocese and others) was discussed, and Philip said the Dicastery member had knowledge of the issues and seemed sympathetic and concerned with what has been reported about the Diocese.

• The Diocesan Presbyteral Council is required to be consulted when families are formed by multiple parishes.  This includes input from the affected parishes.  This did not happen and will be used in future appeal documents.

• Priests cannot show favoritism in family groups.  Each parish must remain autonomous.

• Philip reiterated that each parish must retain their own Finance Council and that accounts must be separate and distinct.

• Anything that is an identifier of a parish must be maintained.  An example given was that a parish had a yearly prayer event specific to their namesake and the diocese/pastor said that would no longer be supported.

• At the civil proceeding on 8/12, the plaintiffs’ lawyers argued that all donations to a parish are restricted for the parish use and cannot be taken by the diocese.

• There are two types of restrictions of donations:

  • By Purpose – example being you write a check and attach a note to it that says this money is for flowers for the grounds only

  • By Obligation – example being that you give property to the diocese for the express purpose of building a church and that if the church ever ceases to exist the property reverts back to the family who donated the property.  This type of restriction requires the bishop to approve.  This is leading to many churches researching if in fact their church was built via this method, but is rare.

• Philip once again said that Secondary Worship Site is not canonical.  Again, we remain a parish at St. John’s due to the Dicastery accepting our appeal for review.  That occurred as of the July 1 letter from the Dicastery advising us that our Suspension Appeal was accepted for review.  The Dicastery has our full documents package, which states our case for remaining a parish.  The Dicastery has 90 days to advise their answer, making end of Sept the date we may hear from them.  They may advise they need more time or they may not respond in that timeframe, which will lead to me sending a follow up, requesting status.  Should the Dicastery reject our appeal at this time we then appeal to the Apostolic Signatura.  All these steps are being tracked by me and the SOBC group to ensure we don’t miss any deadlines.  Please note that St. Jude Parish in Buffalo, which was closed by the Diocese, won their appeal and received a decree by the Dicastery proclaiming they are to be re-opened.  The bishop has been on TV in Buffalo saying he will not re-open them.  This will lead to more pressure on the bishop by Rome.

• Please see the attached document from the Saint Joseph Foundation.  Philip Gray asked that we send this to everyone and encourage us all to sign up for their newsletter.  He specifically was not asking for donations but wanted us all to have the newsletter as they provide a wide range of information.  Please consider signing up.  Without SOBC and the Saint Joseph Foundation, I have no doubt we would already be closed.  Thanks!

• The meeting in Buffalo wrapped up with a poll being taken regarding petitioning Rome to Correctively Council the Bishop and his team or have them removed.  This is a formal process and will require new mandates and a formal document submission to Rome.  I will advise if SOBC intends to go forward with this as will mean new mandates are sought from western New York Catholics to show support for this action.

  
  

Our 501(c)3 meetings where we introduced the Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation donation concept was met with overwhelming support.  100% of the nearly 70 attendees from St. John’s support implementing the plan.  Thanks to all who attended and provided valuable input.  Philip Gray strongly recommends this concept and confirms it cannot be used against us by the Diocese to claim insolvency.  There are no Canon law concerns with implementing this.  It will require working out the details with the EMCC management team.  There will be more information soon regarding this proposal.

As referenced earlier, here is the letter from the Saint Joseph Foundation. Philip Gray is encouraging everyone to sign up for their newsletter as well. Without the help of this foundation, we would doubtless already be closed.

SJF letter Aug 2025.pdf

Download PDF • 357KB

Please continue to pray for a favorable outcome to our appeals. This process is far from over and we hope you will all consider letting your voices be heard.

Thanks for your continued support.  Please contact me with questions or comments.

Dan Hinz

716-307-1440 or dhinz52@gmail.com