The Vatican in Rome has accepted appeals from 10 local churches, the group Save Our Churches Buffalo has confirmed.
The list includes:
- St. John XXIII
- Ascension, Batavia
- St. Bernadette
- Holy Spirit, Buffalo
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga
- Infant of Prague
- Our Lady of the Rosary, Wilson
- St. Rose of Lima, Forestville
- Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda
- St. Brigid, Bergen
These churches were originally ordered to close last year after the diocese unveiled its Road To Renewal plan. A decline in parishioner attendance, a shortage of priests, the clergy abuse scandal and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing were all reasons cited for the closures.
These churches will remain open while that appeals process plays out in Rome.
A dozen churches originally ordered to close by the diocese have now been granted an appeal from the Vatican.
