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	Churches: St. Mary's Appeals Merger; All Saints Administrator Named Lockport Union-Sun & Journal February 27, 2008 http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_058002424.html The Rev. Daniel A. Young, who has served as pastor of St. Joseph's and St. Anthony's parishes, has been appointed temporary administrator of the new All Saints Parish at St. Patrick's. St. Joe's, St. Anthony's and St. Patrick's merged into All Saints, at the site of St. Patrick's on Church Street. St. Mary's was to be the fourth parish to combine into All Saints. However, St. Mary's is appealing the Diocese of Buffalo decision to close the church on Saxton Street. The Rev. Francis Schimscheiner has been serving as pastor of St. Patrick's. "Priests will have applied for that position," said Kevin Keenan, director of the diocese Office of Communications. "The Priests Personnel Board will make the decision, and it will be announced at a later date. Father Young will run the parish." The date of the Bishop Edward U. Kmiec's directive to close St. Mary's was Feb. 3. St. Mary's had 10 days to respond, and did so, according to the Rev. Gary Kibler, the pastor. The diocese has 30 days to study the appeal. "We had ongoing communication between the bishop's office and the people seeking appeal," Keenan said. "While the merger decision is being appealed, St. Mary's will remain open." The diocese is talking to Philip Gray, a canon lawyer who was hired by St. Mary's. Should the diocese deny St. Mary's request, the parishioners can appeal to the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, which will review the case and issue a decision. The final step would be appealing to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest canonical court in the Roman Catholic Church. The entire process may take some time. Members of St. Adalbert's in Buffalo filed an appeal July 1. The bishop's decision was upheld in late December.
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