A copy of a letter received by Gene (last name redacted), from the Rev. Thomas Mahoney, dated Jan. 8, stating that Gene has been officially removed from the Parish Council of Our Lady of Peace Church, 10950 Main St., Clarence. Facebook Photo.

As the decree to shutter operations at Ss. Peter and Paul church and to merge with St. James parish in Jamestown looms less than two weeks away, officials with Save Our Holy Apostles Parish, say “not all hope is lost.”

The Catholic Bishop of Buffalo, the Rev. Michael W. Fisher’s edict to cease operations and merge the churches with a no later than Feb. 28 date has been met with resistance from some the parishioners of the Ss. Peter and Paul, 508 Cherry St.

“We must wait for the Remonstratio (appeal) to be delivered to the Chancery. I have notifications set up to let me know when it’s out for delivery and when the Chancery has received it. From there, the bishop has 30 “useful days” to respond. He can choose to accept our appeal and revoke his decree; emend his decree; deny our appeal and uphold his decree; or ignore our appeal and let a 30-day window pass (which is considered to be a form of denial under Canon Law),” wrote an official with the Save Our Holy Apostles Parish in an email received by The Post-Journal.

“In full transparency, while we fully believe in the strength of our case and pray that he accepts our appeal, the core group is expecting either a direct denial or for the appeal to be ignored; However, it’s important to remember that this does not mean that the appeal is over or that hope is lost. In fact, the bishop denying or ignoring our appeal is oddly a victory as it grants us access to the next level of the appeal process: the Dicastery for the Clergy. I’ve already got a strong foundation for our petition to the Dicastery and we’re continuing to collect evidence and statements. Additionally, the Dicastery’s interest in this matter is assuring Canon Law is being properly followed and the decisions being made pose no danger to souls. They are far more likely to give us fair consideration (especially considering that we’re one of MANY appeals from parishes within the Diocese that are about to find its way before them).”

Closure of Ss. Peter and Paul and its merger into St. James is part of the 79 church closures and 39 secondary sites identified for mergers as part of the Road to Recovery program for the Catholic Churches located in the United States. Part of the driving force behind the Road to Recovery plan is the potential of the aging of the church’s priesthood and community of believers.

Joe Martone, Buffalo Diocese communications manager, previously stated in a Jan. 11 Post-Journal article that “Our priests are aging out. We have a shortage of priests. The Catholic church, nationwide, is facing the same problem.”

Martone provided the following figures, regarding the potential greying of the Holy Roman Church. According to a fact sheet provided, information gathered from 160 parishes, across the Buffalo Diocese, that 60% of parishioners are aged 66-years old, or older. Additionally, 49% of the churches in the diocese are seeing a decline in registered households, and 59% of the parishes report a negative net operating balance.

Martone said that the diocese is also facing a declining mass attendance, decline in younger congregation membership, excess of property maintenance expenses and a financial strain on the church because of the Chapter 11 filings created by sex abuse lawsuits filed against the diocese. Additionally, several parishes are reporting declines in the administration of sacramental rights.

“The situation is bleak,” said Martone.

Additionally, members of the Save Our Holy Apostles Church group have alleged that some Catholic officials are attempting to bully others into silence from the pulpits.

In a Save Holy Apostles Parish (Saints Peter & Paul, St. John’s) Facebook posting, group member Jackie Bauer Chechak posted a picture of a letter to a member of a parish council in Clarence Center, dated Jan. 8, from the Rev. Thomas Mahoney saying, “by signing the petition to appeal Bishop Fisher’s decree, you’ve placed yourself in opposition to the goals of the current leadership of Our Lady of Peace. Therefore, as of the date of this letter you will no longer be a member of the Parish Council of Our Lady of Peace.”

This posting has drawn negative reactions from several members from within the Facebook group.

“This is absolutely ridiculous,” said Save Holy Apostles Parish member Tony Dolce. “This is nothing more than bullying from the pulpit. How can you follow proper procedure and cannon law, then get punished for it?”