Diocese speaks out after priest's death

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Erie County medical examiner has ruled that popular Buffalo priest Father Joe Moreno died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound over the weekend.

Sources tell News 4 that Father Joe was despondent over his impending transfer from the St. Lawrence Parish. The news of his reassignment left the popular priest depressed and disheartened and sources say may have lead to him taking his own life.

Diocese of Buffalo Spokesperson Kevin Keenan said, “This is very much in line with the process that any priest in the diocese of Buffalo goes through from the stand point, has a term and at the end of the term, or some point in the term, the bishop will make a decision to reassign the priest.”

Kevin Keenan would only say Moreno is being moved to minister a hospital or nursing home, and received that notification days before his death.

Keenan said, “No final decision had been made, but they were certainly very close and the bishop had a couple of options he was examining.”

Keenan says it’s unknown if Father Joe left reason for taking his own life.

Father Francis Mazur had been appointed to take over at St. Lawrence, that appointment has since been rescinded.

A wake for Father Joseph Moreno will be held Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m. at Saint Margarets Church in Buffalo. A mass of Christian Burial will follow Friday morning at 10 a.m.