Pope Francis offered his condolences after at least 55 people died in wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The pope sent a condolence telegram on Friday expressing his sadness and solidarity with all who are suffering due to the destruction caused by the wildfires, which have destroyed hundreds of buildings and left scores missing […]
Negotiations have been ongoing between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors appointed in the Diocese’s Chapter 11 reorganization proceeding. The committee is comprised of six claimants entrusted to represent the collective interests of all abuse survivors. Details of the negotiations remain confidential, but the diocese and the committee […]
The Diocese of Buffalo has resolved claims against three diocesan priests. As a result of an investigation conducted through the Independent Review Board, Bishop Michael W. Fisher has accepted the unanimous IRB recommendation and has made the determination that the child abuse claim made against Father Louis Dolinic has been substantiated. Another child abuse claim […]
WASHINGTON — In reaction to the news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the oral contraceptive, Opill, to be dispensed over the counter, Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, commented: “This action by a government entity […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a church that “bears the signs of serious crises of mistrust and lack of credibility,” members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be asked to find ways to build community, encourage the contribution of every baptized person and strengthen the Church’s primary mission of sharing the Gospel, […]
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 […]
