Buffalo Diocese to lay off its insurance services department in 'business decision'

The insurance department shakeup comes amid a plethora of recent building sales and proposed church closings.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Diocese of Buffalo will lay off its insurance services department at the end of August in what it calls a "business decision," a diocese spokesperson confirmed to WIVB News 4.

As a result, the diocese "will pursue outsourced insurance advisors" to manage its existing program.

The layoffs affect five employees within insurance services, and the department will be officially eliminated on Aug. 31. The department will continue to administer the insurance program through Aug. 31, with an outsourced advisory team expected to be in place by that time.

The insurance department shakeup comes amid a plethora of recent building sales and proposed church closings within the diocese. In October, it announced that settling nearly 900 claims of childhood sexual abuse will cost at least $100 million.

You can view a full list of churches that could end up being shut down here.