In the past year, Holy Apostles Parish has seen its closure and, more recently, its assessment to help pay for the Diocese of Buffalo’s $150 million settlement with child sex abuse survivors overturned by the Dicastery for Clergy.
The Save Holy Apostles Parish group announced via Facebook on Wednesday that the parish had received a letter from the Vatican ruling in favor of its assessment appeal, revoking Bishop Michael Fisher’s decree and ordering the return of any money already transferred to the diocese to be returned to Holy Apostles. The Dicastery for Clergy said in its decision that the diocese didn’t follow proper processes outlined in Canon Law.
Holy Apostles was being assessed $1.3 million, or 80% of the parish’s unrestricted cash and assets, when the assessment was first announced in the summer of 2025. That rate was being used for any church scheduled for closure or merger, which was the case for Holy Apostles at the time. The reversal of Holy Apostles Parish’s assessment is the latest in several such rulings by the Dicastery for Clergy, including this month’s announcement regarding St. Brendan on the Lake in Newfane. Earlier this spring eight Catholic parishes across Western New York were told they no longer had to contribute to the Diocese of Buffalo’s bankruptcy settlement, following a ruling from the Vatican.
Main points in the Holy Apostles’ decision, according to the Save Holy Apostles Parish group, include the assessment amount exceeding what is normally allowed under Canon Law even though a pastor or parish administrator is able to gift money from the parish. Language in the diocese’s announcements and other aspects of the process made clear, according to Save Holy Apostles Parish’s post, that the amounts identified by the assessment were required payments and could not be considered a gift. The Dicastery for Clergy also reasoned that while bishops are able to impose a tribute, the tribute must be for grave reasons, follow a specified process and the tributes must be “moderate and proportionate.” The Dicastery for Clergy said in its ruling that there was no evidence to suggest that the assessment amount was being requested as such a tribute and Fisher did not go through the proper procedures needed for him to request such a tribute.
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