Elected officials are urging the the state to save the pensions of more than 1,000 former St. Clare employees.

On Monday, The Health Department said in a statement to the Daily Gazette, “The mismanagement of the pension fund is the moral responsibility of the diocese, and they should fund their fair share.”

Thursday, Spectrum News received a statement from the Diocese of Albany, responding to the Health Department, from the diocese's Director of Communications Mary Poust.

"The collapse of the St. Clare’s Corporation pension is a tragedy, and creative solutions should be sought to assist pensioners during this challenging time. However, the Department of Health is misinformed. The management of St. Clare’s funds — pension and otherwise — was always the responsibility of the St. Clare’s Corporation, under the direction of its president and fiscal officers. The diocese was never the owner or manager of the hospital or its pension fund," read the statement.

Poust continued, "As shepherd of the Diocese of Albany, Bishop Scharfenberger has offered to facilitate — and is in the process of developing — an opportunity for a conversation among stakeholders to surface ideas and provide a forum for discussion in an effort to give a voice to those who feel they have not been heard."

Senators have equally spoken up surrounding the news. State Sen. James Tedisco offered his statement on Monday. 

"The rug was pulled out from underneath them rather quickly," Tedisco said.

After St. Clare's hospital closed in 2008, employees were promised pension payouts that would last them through retirement. Now retirees are learning that payments would be reduced drastically or eliminated altogether.

Tedisco and George Amedore (R - NY46) are writing to Governor Andrew Cuomo, asking for the $53.5 million needed to restore the pension fund.

"Ask the governor to place this into the 2019 budget and afford these individuals the security that they deserve," said Tedisco.

Individuals like Mary Hartshorne, a retired St. Clare worker, are one of the many employees told her pension payments would be terminated.  

"[On] October 18, we all got the letter that said in November pensions are going to end; I thought 'oh, they made a mistake,' " said Hartshorne.

She said it was like a "slap in the face" after all her years of service to the hospital.

"Who would think that it's a good idea to tell people in their 60s that you have three more weeks and then your money's done," said Hartshorne.

Joe Pofit, president of St. Clare, released a statement in response.

"[We] are sympathetic to the circumstances of the former employees that will not receive benefits, but [we] are committed to supporting the efforts of the community as they seek other sources of funding," the statement read.

But Hartshorne says that is not enough.

"The church says they have no money; the bishop says they aren't responsible and are not affiliated with us," said Hartshorne.

She is hoping they will produce a lasting resolution.

"We're hoping that anybody could step in," said Hartshorne.