Local Catholic schools discussing possibility of buying their buildings from the Diocese

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Some local Catholic schools are in discussions with the Buffalo Catholic Diocese about potentially buying their school buildings.

Any proceeds from the sale of their buildings would go to settle sexual abuse lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act.

The four schools that are part of these ongoing talks are Bishop Timon High School in South Buffalo; Cardinal O’Hara High School in the Town of Tonawanda; Notre Dame High School in Batavia and St. Mary’s High School in Lancaster.

According to a spokesperson from the Diocese, these schools are only on the Catholic schools part of the discussions because the Diocese owns their buildings and they are leased by the respective schools.

Most of the schools in their leases have a provision to buy their building.

If that were to happen, the Diocese says the buildings would be put up for auction and proceeds from the sale would go to the award to settle sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Diocese under the Child Victims Act.

The Diocese remains in bankruptcy court and has been in the process of listing and selling church properties, such as the Catholic Center.

“When we first took over that building, the Diocese had about 290 employees in that building. We currently have 88, we have a lot of empty space, we’re not utilizing the building to the capacity that we once did because more of our ministries have moved out to the family of parishes,” said Richard Suchan, the COO of Diocese of Buffalo.

The Diocese has also been criticized in recent months for announcing the closure of several local parishes.

“I know this is challenging, this is not want any of us wanted, but in the midst of all of this loss, there’s an opportunity for spiritual growth and for us to be better as we go forward,” said Father Bryan Zielenieski of the Diocese of Buffalo.

The last meeting on the possibility of some local catholic schools buying their buildings was two weeks ago, and it was led by Suchan. As part of its bankruptcy case, the Diocese has been taking a look at all its properties and assessing their value.

The Diocese says the four schools mentioned all have long-term leases and there’s nothing imminent on those agreements. None of the schools have decided whether to buy their buildings and if that were to happen, they would be independent Catholic schools in the Diocese.