If the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo thought a ruling from the Vatican would put to rest the controversy over merging St. Adalbert Basilica on Buffalo’s East Side, it was wrong.
According to Ronald Suchocki, a parishioner and member of the Save St. Adalbert’s committee that appealed the decision of the Journey in Faith and Grace, the faithful want the Vatican to explain what it means by “rest assured that the church (St. Adalbert’s) will remain a place of worship.”
Suchocki believes the parish should remain open for regular worship. The Diocese believes the church should become an oratory and only be used for special occasions.
The Diocese of Buffalo in a statement said: “The Vatican Congregation for the Clergy has upheld the decision to merge St. Adalbert Parish into St. John Kanty Parish. Both parishes are in Buffalo.”
And, “ Bishop Kmiec said the merger of St. Adalbert and St. John Kanty parishes will be effective March 7, 2011. At that time, St. Adalbert Church will become an oratory of St. John Kanty Parish. An oratory is a sacred place that exists for the convenience of some community or group of the faithful.”
