Church Closings

February 25, 2009

Group questions sudden closing of Sacred Heart church

Mark Guydish

With yellow tape blocking access to the steps of Sacred Heart Church, a group fighting to keep the building open stood on the sidewalk and questioned why it was safe for a crowd attending Mass Sunday but dangerous three days later.

"What has happened in the last 48 hours to close this church?" Anthony Foti asked during a brief press conference this afternoon, contending that the real problem reason for the tape was the group's request to hold a prayer service this evening in the church, or at least on its steps. The group promised the service would still be held. "We'll walk the sidewalks," Foti said.

Monsignor John Sempa said the steps were taped off and the church shut by order of the Diocese of Scranton. "We received a letter from the architect (who had done a structural study of the building) and we were told we have to put protective scaffolding up. We even had to move a funeral that had been scheduled there."

At the press conference, Foti said he is "a licensed professional structural engineer," and that he did not see anything this week that hadn't been there for months and even years. He noted that a study was done in 2002 and remedial work was completed with the facade, and that a newer study in September, 2008, did not cite any dangers in the facade, though it did note the steeple needs work.

Foti closed his statements saying "I demand to see the study which resulted in the temporary closing of this church."

Foti and his wife Noreen have been spearheading an effort to save the church for more than a year. On Jan. 31 Bishop Joseph Martino announced what everyone had expected, that the church will be closed permanently. Anthony and Noreen Foti have filed an appeal on behalf of their group, the Sacred Heart Foundation, and have formed a "Council of Parishes" to help others interested in appealing the closing of their churches.

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