WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new plan approved in the Archdiocese of St. Louis will reduce the number of parishes from 178 to 134 amid concerns about a lack of priests and shrinking Mass attendance, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski announced over the weekend. The plan, called “All Things New,” closes 35 churches, merges their parishes into neighboring […]
The Diocese of Buffalo has resolved a claim against a diocesan priest. As a result of an investigation and upon the recommendation of the Independent Review Board, Bishop Michael W. Fisher has determined that an allegation that Father F. Patrick Melfi engaged in a sexual relationship with an adult female in 2007 has been substantiated. […]
As the first year anniversary of the Tops shooting came to pass, Bishop Michael W. Fisher celebrated a commemorative Mass at St. Martin de Porres Church on Northampton Street on Buffalo’s East Side. After thanking Family of Parishes pastor Father Joseph Rogliano for serving as host and acknowledging Father Ronald Sajdak, vicar forane of Buffalo, […]
WASHINGTON — Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso issued an open letter to Congress on May 5 strongly condemning the Secure the Border Act of 2023 as “extreme” and expressing the U.S. bishops’ position that the bill’s passage “is beyond justification.” As chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, Bishop […]
DENVER — The U.S. Catholic bishops have praised a federal court’s action to restore limits on the use of the abortion drug mifepristone and urged an end to the distribution of the life-ending drug, just hours before the Supreme Court announced a temporary stay on the decision. “The 5th Circuit was right to recognize the […]
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on March 15. Parishes and Catholic schools of the Diocese are separately incorporated under New York State’s Religious Corporations Law and are not part of the filing. The mission and ministries of the diocese and parishes will […]
The Diocese of Buffalo has received a child sexual abuse complaint regarding a priest in the diocese. As a result, Bishop Michael W. Fisher has placed Msgr. Peter Popadick on administrative leave as an investigation takes place. Prior to being placed on leave, Msgr. Popadick was the pastor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish in Cheektowaga. […]
One firefighter lost his life battling a four-alarm fire on Main Street in downtown Buffalo just yards away from the Catholic Center. Gray and white smoke billowed from 745 Main Street beginning around 10 a.m. Bursts of flames shot out of the building as fire trucks and passersby gathered to watch the fire that gutted […]
The Diocese of Buffalo has received a child sexual abuse complaint regarding a retired priest in the diocese. As a result, Bishop Michael W. Fisher has placed Father Joseph Vatter on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Prior to being placed on leave, Father Vatter was occasionally celebrating Masses at various diocesan churches. Please note […]
A suspect has been arrested and now publicly identified in the murder case of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was shot and killed in his home on Saturday, Feb. 18. In a press conference Monday, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Sheriff Robert Luna announced that charges would be brought against a Hispanic male, 65-year-old […]