St. Michael's won't merge for now after Vatican suspension

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — St. Michael's in downtown Buffalo will not close for now following a suspension from the Vatican, it was announced on Wednesday.

The church, located on Washington Street, was set to merge with St. Louis on Edward Street when the Buffalo Diocese announced its closures and mergers last summer.

A formal petition to Bishop Michael Fisher was denied, which led to the the church appealing the decision to the Vatican. Save Our Buffalo Churches, a volunteer group that is working to reverse decisions from the Diocese, was informed of the Vatican's decision on Monday.

"A response from the Dicastery has been eagerly anticipated for months, and we hope this will be the first of many appeals to be examined and decrees suspended," Save Our Buffalo Churches said in a statement on Wednesday.

This is now the second church in the area that will remain open at least temporarily after the Diocese said it would close. Last week, it was announced that Holy Cross, located on Buffalo's West Side, would remain open.

Nearly 100 Western New York parishes and churches have been affected as the Diocese attempts to pay $100 million to settle hundreds of sexual abuse claims filed under the Adult Survivors Act. The Diocese confirmed that the net sale proceeds will go into funding the settlements.