Infant of Prague parishioners unsure of efforts to prevent looming merger 

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Some parishioners of the Infant of Prague Parish in Cheektowaga are hoping they can prevent their church from closing as a decree from the bishop is expected any day now stating when the merger will take place.

There's an effort to keep the parish from merging with Saints Peter and Paul Church in Williamsville after the Buffalo Diocese rolled out its recommendations over the summer for local parishes to merge or close.

Michael Getz, an Infant of Prague parishioner of 15 years, questioned if the effort will change the Buffalo Diocese’s mind.

"Personally, I think it's a waste of time 'cause we all know when someone's mind is made up, that's it, that's what they're going to do,” Getz said. “You could have all the petitions you want, I mean I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so."

The changes are part of the diocese's "road to renewal" effort to "rightsize and reshape" itself amid a series of challenges, including fewer priests and parishioners compounded by settling nearly 900 claims of childhood sexual abuse that will cost the diocese at least $100 million.

"All this merging and the church closing are because the church, for such a long time, swept everything under the carpet and we're paying for the church's sins," Getz said.

"Obviously like a lot of people, I'm not happy with this at all. It's a shame that we're closing all these churches,” said Pam Monaghan, an Infant of Prague parishioner of 40 years. “There's a lot of mixed feelings on the reasons why and stuff."

This weekend, a group of parishioners with Friends of the Infant of Prague Parish passed out flyers to remind churchgoers that they plan to appeal the decision under canon law, which is the legal system of the Catholic Church.

"Infant is a wonderful, wonderful parish and the people are very supportive,” Monaghan said. “There's still a lot of hope in what we're doing. There's people still fighting to keep the church open and it's up to God what will be."

"While we respect the stated intent of the Friends of Infant of Prague Parish to pursue recourse
to the upcoming decree regarding the parish, Bishop Michael Fisher has complete confidence in
the collaborative and consultative process developed to identify the parishes and worship sites
included in the final recommendations of parish mergers and closures including Infant of
Prague," Buffalo Diocese spokesperson Joe Martone said in a statement.

Monaghan has mixed feelings about the effort.

“In some respects, you're for it and you want that, and then in other respects there's a feeling of maybe it's a waste of time,” Monaghan said. “I just keep hopeful because, of course, this is where I want to be."

The church will soon receive a decree from Diocese of Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher stating why the diocese wants the church to merge and when it will happen. The parish will then have 10 days to appeal.

"It's difficult to think that now you have to move on and go to another church and try to start things over,” Monaghan said. “People will and that's just fine and dandy, but it's just that it breaks up so much and it's so heartbreaking."

"When they close churches like this, you have your seniors, they're used to going to these churches, they don't want to travel to other churches,” Getz said. “My thoughts, I think they're going to lose a lot more people."

Click here to read more of WIVB News 4's coverage on the Buffalo Diocese restructuring.