To The Reader’s Forum:

As a lifelong member of Saints Peter &; Paul Parish and then later merging with St. John’s RC Church to become what is now Holy Apostles Parish, I felt it necessary to respond to some of the content in the article in The Post-Journal dated March 8 that was shared with us from Joe Martone, communications director for the Diocese. For the word “normal” to be used in any sentence that pertains to any actions by this Diocese in the past two years is anything but normal.

Is it normal for a bishop to announce on one sunny afternoon to all Catholics in WNY that he will close 79 churches or 51% of its churches? Is it normal that a bishop would allow as part of the Road to Renewal program to pit one group of Catholics against another in a “Hunger Games” scenario where the survival of the fittest remain open? This is hardly the pastoral way of leading his flock. Is it normal that the wealthiest and highest contributing parish (Holy Apostles Parish) within the local Catholic Neighbors in Faith receive a decree for extinction from the bishop without any two-way communication, consultation, or meetings as is claimed by Mr. Martone? Is it normal for a Diocese that has more Catholics than Charleston, SC and Denver,Co. to only have six seminarians as compared to 25 and 50, respectively, in the other locations? Could it be that the Buffalo Diocese has a problem with leadership and culture these past fifty years? Is it normal for a Diocese to state that the average age of priests in Buffalo are 76 years of age when the retirement age is 75? I challenge Mr. Martone on where he derived that number. I certainly have not seen that locally or in my travels within the Diocese.

And finally, in exasperation, Mr. Martone’s final four words in the article “something has to give”, tells it all. The Diocese has decided to impose its will on its parishioners, (without consultations in many cases), and use the excuse of financial problems and priest shortages that the Diocese is culpable. These are not reasons for rendering any parish extinct as long as there are parishioners who are ready, willing, and capable of sustaining the life of the parish as Holy Apostles parishioners have demonstrated over these past well over 100 years. I remind the bishop, that a parish is set up to last in perpetuity and not be extinguished with a wave of the hand.

All I ever asked and prayed for during this Road to Renewal program was to have a two way, transparent, open and honest dialogue with my bishop who has the sole authority to render these decisions. I continue to pray for our bishop and my fellow parishioners that our bishop will reconsider his decree as it pertains to Holy Apostles Parish in Jamestown.

Peace to you all,

John F. Campion

Jamestown