The Bishop is pleased.....

that Churches are just leaping off the shelves to satisfied secular users.

Five former Catholic churches are being reused for worship by other religious groups, a couple of them have been turned into museums, and several are being converted into living spaces.

Since its restructuring effort began in 2005, the Diocese of Buffalo has sold about a quarter of the 77 worship sites that have been closed or are slated to close.

The diocese so far has sold 18 churches. Four other properties are under contract to be sold, and a couple more are nearing a deal, according to diocesan spokesman Kevin A. Keenan.

“Things are going very well. The bishop has been very pleased with the number of properties that have been sold,” Keenan said. “It has exceeded our expectations to this point.”