For the official PDF version of this letter: View PDF
For your convenience, you can also read an unofficial text-only version here:
“DIOCESE OF BUFFALO
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
A brief announcement relative to the Diocese’s bankruptcy:
For some time now, the Diocese has been actively engaged in mediation with the Creditors’ Committee, which represents the interests of abuse survivors. The Diocese’s insurance carriers have also participated in mediation as we work to establish a pool of settlement funds to provide some measure of restitution and, we pray, closure for survivors.
Any ultimate settlement will need to be funded by monetary contributions sourced from across our Catholic community, including from the Diocese, parishes, and other affiliated Catholic entities, as well as from available insurance assets. While confidential settlement discussions continue, our Catholic community must remain steadfast in supporting survivors and dedicating available resources to their healing. To that end, the Diocese, in close consultation with the priests who make up the parish steering committee, is making a commitment that the collective contribution of our Catholic community, not including any insurance monies, will be at least $100 million.
We recognize that honoring this commitment will be challenging, but it is absolutely necessary that we do everything in our power to set things right, to move beyond this dark chapter in our history, and move forward as together we work to rebuild and renew our Church.
We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.”
Based on a letter from the Diocese of Buffalo, October 2023.
