Pope’s representative responds to Catholics critical of the Diocese of Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A group of devout Catholics believes the Bishop of Buffalo has disengaged with the flock while he navigates through bankruptcy. In April, the five Catholics asked the Vatican to act.

The Catholics, led by local attorney Mike Taheri, sent an April 8 letter to Pope Francis and the Apostolic Nuncio asking for the removal of Buffalo’s Bishop Michael Fisher.

“Our Diocese needs a Bishop who is merciful and walks with his flock in good times and bad,” the group wrote. “Instead, our present Bishop remains glued to the inside of the Chancery. He has no presence in this community and has a misguided focus.”

They hoped to get a response. And they did.

On July 29, the Apostolic Nunciature acknowledged receipt of the letter and a package of news articles.

“Be assured that the above-mentioned documentation, including newspaper articles, has been studied, with the content and concerns duly noted,” wrote Monsignor John Pail Zenollito and G. Pedrera for the Office of the Apostolic Nuncio, who is the Pope’s representative in the United States.

The Diocese of Buffalo is still working through the bankruptcy it filed in February 2020. It seeks to settle hundreds of childhood sexual abuse claims filed under the state’s Child Victims Act, which opened a new window for survivors to file lawsuits.

But Taheri’s group continues to pressure Bishop Fisher and the Diocese of Buffalo.

“It’s a horrible time to be a Catholic in this Diocese,” the group’s letter stated.

The bankruptcy, the burgeoning legal fees, and the closing of schools and parishes are not the only challenges the diocese faces.

Contributions are down.

The number of priests is dwindling.

Fewer parishioners, including younger people, are in the pews.

WIVB News 4 Investigates featured the group of Catholics — Taheri, Anthony Bonaventura, Mike Liwicki, and Marie Carrubba — in a story about how they are more careful with contributing to the church after the Diocese offered $100 million to settle almost 900 sexual abuse claims.

The group said it was upset with the Diocese informing parishioners that funds for any settlement would come from all Catholic entities, including the parishes. They said that while they support settling sexual abuse cases, they do not want contributions to go toward that resolution.

In addition, the group remains steadfast in its criticism of how the Diocese, under Bishop Fisher, has closed parishes and schools, and reduced the number of masses.

Fisher told News 4 Investigates in April he has no plans to leave and would welcome any review.

“If the Holy Father needs to send someone in to look at how we’re doing things, I have nothing to hide,” Fisher said. “And I’m open to certainly doing that.”

A diocesan spokesman said the Diocese received follow-up communication from the Office of Apostolic Nuncio regarding the Taheri group’s letter, and the Diocese is in regular contact with the Nuncio’s office and will provide any information requested.

Group responds to Nuncio’s communication

Taheri said there is a “conspicuous omission” in the response from the Office of Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, D.C.: Where does it stand in the conflict?

“The letter from the Nuncio, the Pope’s representative in the U.S. makes no mention that he supports the closing of these churches or the plan that we call, various Catholics call, the Road to Ruin,” Taheri said. “The Catholic Chancery people call it the road to renewal. We don’t see that road at all.”

Anthony Bonaventura, who is part of the group critical of the Diocese, said he does not have “a lot of faith” that anything good will come out of this effort. His parish, Our Lady of Peace in Clarence, is one of the churches on the list of closures.

“I’m curious to see what the next step is,” Bonaventura said.

The disconnect with the Diocese and its flock is “very disturbing,” he said. As a result, Bonaventura and his wife, both devout Catholics, no longer contribute to the offertory, and are looking at other options to continue their faith.

“It’s such a bureaucracy, I think,” he said about the Diocese. “And the bishop being an accountant, I can understand coming in and having to cut, cut, cut, but it is I guess, unfortunately, a business. But it’s sad that it comes to that.”

Fisher, in his April interview, said the group’s letter was “disheartening.”

The group’s letter accused Fisher of not providing spiritual nourishment to the flock, but Fisher said he has visited at least 160 parishes and schools.

While he has a financial background, Fisher said pastoral and spiritual care provided by the Diocese are “always preeminent in my mind and in my thoughts.”

“Obviously, we have to look at the vitality of our parishes, our schools, and our charities,” Fisher said. “All of those that we’re responsible for. We’re in the midst of a Chapter 11 situation, but we also have declining numbers in terms of our priests, as well as in many of our parishes.”

With limited resources, the bishop said the Diocese has to make these tough decisions that would ensure “we can serve the people in the way that we’re called to.”

“That’s my focus,” Fisher said.

What happens now?

Both Taheri and Bonaventura are unsure what happens next.

“I want to see the results of that inquiry,” Taheri said.

Taheri said he wants to give Fisher a chance for a reboot, but he will not pull back on the pressure.

“Any job that I’ve ever taken, I’ve always wanted to do a job, a good job,” Fisher said in April. “The best of my ability, and if I have to move on, I’ll do that. But I hope I have done the best that I could do.”

Bonaventura said he has not seen any meaningful public engagement from the bishop on closing and merging parishes.

Due to the criticisms presented in their letter, Bonaventura hopes the Office of Apostolic Nuncio’s response is not “lip service.”

“I don’t know what they’re thinking,” he said. “It might fall off someone’s desk, and we might not ever hear another thing.”

To see all of News 4’s coverage on the Buffalo Diocese restructuring, click here.

Dan Telvock is an award-winning investigative producer and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2018. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter .