10 churches to remain open after Vatican accepts appeals

The Vatican in Rome has accepted appeals from 10 local churches, the group Save Our Churches Buffalo has confirmed.

The list includes:

St. John XXIII
Ascension, Batavia
St. Bernadette
Holy Spirit, Buffalo
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Infant of Prague
Our Lady of the Rosary, Wilson
St. Rose of Lima, Forestville
Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda
St. Brigid, Bergen

These churches were originally ordered to close last year after the diocese unveiled its Road To Renewal plan. A decline in parishioner attendance, a shortage of priests, the clergy abuse scandal and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing were all reasons cited for the closures.

These churches will remain open while that appeals process plays out in Rome.

A dozen churches originally ordered to close by the diocese have now been granted an appeal from the Vatican.