BUFFALO, N.Y. — Catholic Charities kicked off its 2018 appeal week Sunday with a goal of raising $11 million.

"Right now we're a little bit behind pace but it's early. These two Sundays are very important to us since the majority of our parish donations come to us in this ten-day period," said Sister Mary McCarrick, diocesan director of Catholic Charities.

The campaign kicks off at a difficult time for the diocese, as the Buffalo News on Sunday reported a $1.5 million settlement paid in 2016 to settle a sexual abuse lawsuit against a priest and as another protest took place in front of St. Joseph’s calling for more transparency regarding abuse accusations.  

Some parishioners are worried their donations to Catholic Charities will be used to fill the victim compensation fund recently established by the diocese.

"When money comes to Catholic Charities, it legally belongs to Catholic Charities and must be spent for the purposes of Catholic Charities,” McCarrick said. “None of the money that comes to the Catholic Charities Appeals could be or will be used in any kind of settlement for clergy sex abuse.”

Some will remain skeptical about this division.

"If I were a Catholic in the Diocese of Buffalo I would say to the bishop, you're not getting another penny until there's complete and 100 percent transparency regarding everything about the diocese including sexual abuse by clergy and anyone else in the Diocese," said Robert Hoatson.

Hoatson heads Road to Recovery, an organization that helps the victims of sexual abuse. He’s calling on the diocese to release all information on clergy accused of abuse.

"We need the names of all of the clergymen who have abused in the Diocese of Buffalo and all of their files, all of their profiles, because we want to be able to examine all of that with law enforcement, with other advocates, and with the victims themselves to see what could be done to help them heal," said Hoatson. 

A spokesperson for the diocese says regarding releasing the names of all the priests accused of sexual abuse: "It's being looked at very seriously. The diocese is likely to release more information this week."