Church Closings

April 7, 2009

Local parishes make case against closings, hint at lawsuit

Mark Guydish

Representatives from a group trying to stop the closing of local parishes held a news conference at Sacred Heart Church In Wilkes-Barre to expand on their latest effort., including the possibility of a lawsuit. About 35 people prayed the Rosary after the announcement.

Noreen Foti, who has spearheaded the push that now includes seven parishes in Luzerne County an d one in Scranton, said the Council of Parishes of Northeastern Pennsylvania has joined a group of parishes from eight diocese nation-wide in making a "Request for mediation," delivered by hand to the Vatican at noon today, Rome time.

The 22-page document seeks to suspend an appeals process already started by the churches in an effort to stop the closing, and begin a new process with clear responsibilities on both sides.

Foti noted that "Catholocism in America is in a crisis," citing a Pew Forum survey last year that found about one-third of respondents who said they were raised Catholic no longer describe themselves that way. Foti also noted that, when Bishop Joseph Martino took office in October, 2003, there were 231 parishes, and by the time his latest, diocese-wide restructuring is completed, 122 of them - 53 percent - will have been closed since his arrival.

Foti said that massive closings in Boston resulted in 35 percent to 40 percent of parishioners leaving the Catholic faith. She noted that a similar outcome here would translate into the Diocese of Scranton losing between 58,000 to 67,000 believers. She also noted that some local Catholics believe the closings are not the result of last year's extensive, diocese-wide process known as "Called to Holiness and Mission," but were planned long before that process began, with the intent of taking assets from the closed churches for diocesan needs.

Foti said "recent federal appellate court rulings have upheld lower court decisions that allow for suits against the Holy See (the Vatican) to proceed," and that the local group is following research in Boston regarding possible lawsuits over church closings there.

The Sacred Heart Foundation, formed to save that church, has begun circulating letters to the chairman of the Parish's "implementation team" responsible for helping the church merge with nearby St. Stanislaus. That letter asks that a detailed list of all church assets be provided to all parishioners. Anthony Foti, who has worked with is wife Noreen to save Sacred Heart, said the group is trying to determine what the plans are for church assets.

 

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