The New York state Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in the case of the St. Clare's pensioners against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

The hearing is another step closer to a possible trial.

The alleged mishandling of pension funds by the diocese for St. Clare's Hospital employees has meant some people have been unable to retire.

The diocese filed for bankruptcy two years ago, which froze the pensioner's lawsuit brought by them as well as the state attorney general's office and AARP.

But depending on the ruling, this could allow the pensioners to take part in the diocese's bankruptcy proceedings.

"And every single person who's responsible for this — and they all knew who they are — they have to realize what they've done. We've lost almost eight years of our lives, of our money, what could've been the way. We had our, the way we were going to spend our retirement and nobody can give that back to us," said pensioner Mary Hartshorne.

Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the diocese for comment.