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Response to Letter from Our Temporary Administrator

As discussed at the meeting on November 20th, here is the response to our temporary administrator's letter. The original letter was distributed the weekend of November 8th and 9th.


November 9, 2025


Reverend Dennis Mancuso,


I am writing to provide feedback to your November 5, 2025 handout regarding the fund that was established with the Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation (CRCF) by parishioners of St. John the Evangelist parish. In your document you say there was no foreknowledge of the Pastor. Please be advised that Father Chris Emminger was aware that a 501c3 type fund was being reviewed based on a meeting I had with him in his office when I advised him that I was the Procurator for our appeal efforts. In addition, based on a conversation between Kim Palmer and me regarding the fund, where the fund was explained and I requested a meeting to discuss the details of how it could be administered, she advised that she would reach out to Father Chris and Philippe Yates regarding a meeting. She then, on October 1, 2025, emailed me to advise that after discussion with them, the meeting was declined. She also indicated that if I wanted to discuss this further, I should reach out to Father Chris. i emailed Father Chris the same day requesting a meeting but received no response. The fund was not a secret and was communicated to the pastor when it was contemplated and finalized.


Regarding the use of envelopes, many parishioners contribute to the parish via online contributions, thus eliminating the use of envelopes. Others contribute on a monthly or quarterly basis. Many, perhaps most, envelopes that are used weekly cover multiple people in a family unit. Father Chris also advised from the pulpit that zero-dollar envelopes were acceptable to ensure attendance was registered as needed. Finally, it has been reported that the office staff have told individuals requesting them that they could not provide them with St. John's envelopes. If attendance is indeed calculated based on a weekly count of envelopes containing contributions, this is vastly undercounting actual Mass attendance.


Regarding the future viability of our parish, St. John's has proven its financial viability, even in the face of the financial misinformation that was provided when the Diocese first targeted St. John's to close. The CRCF account will do nothing to diminish this and may actually improve our financial condition, given the significant lack of trust that currently exists. Nearly one hundred parishioners have expressed a desire to support St. John's through this fund. We have been provided assurances from the St. Joseph Foundation lawyers that under Canon Law, any donation made from a 501c3 organization is no different than a donation made by a private individual and are to be recognized and handled as a donation from a private individual. We have Fund Advisors named in the fund who will provide transparency with parishioners and the pastor on a regular basis. Had the meeting been held as requested, this process would have already been worked out in detail. It is the intention of the parishioners through this fund to further strengthen the finances of the parish. We have also been advised that Dicastery officials have responded favorably to arguments that the 501c3 allows people who no longer trust the financial administration of their pastor and bishop but want to support the parish. Rome has acknowledged that these funds cannot be denied and must be considered as available funds. Please also note that funds such as these are becoming increasingly more common within the Church, including in the Diocese of Buffalo and in fact similar funds have existed with CRCF for both St. John's and St. Mary's for decades, and have been used for the operation of each parish as recently as last year. Regarding your comment that, "Only by contributing directly to your Parish can you ensure that your money is going to your Parish", we strongly disagree as the assessment or gift situation certainly contradicts your statement. This fund assures it.


Father, the plan to establish this fund was communicated to Father Chris, and we further know that Philippe reached out to the foundation about the original account there. Opportunities were provided to have a discussion but instead we now find ourselves at this point, again having to correct factual errors. I hope we will be able to meet soon, collectively with our teams, to move forward with the operational transparency discussed earlier.

Kind Regards,


Dan Hinz — Procurator

716-307-1440

cc: Larry Pavlock, Mike Kelley — Fund Advisors


To read the original letter, see the attached file below.


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