Quebec bishops call for government funds for parishes
February 09, 2011
The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec has made public a November letter to a parliamentary commission considering revisions to a law providing funds to historically significant buildings.
“It would be appropriate to create an operating fund for churches of heritage value, whether [formally] classified [as heritage churches] or not,” the bishops said in their letter. ”The Church is rich in heritage, but not in monetary capital. It does not benefit from fixed revenues and has no taxing power. Most of the time, the burden imposed upon it by the maintenance of its buildings exceeds its financial capacities.”
“Moreover, it appears that the religious buildings in Quebec are not the exclusive property of those who frequent worship,” they added. “In effect, as a family heirloom, historical properties of churches benefit all of society, even if only as a testimony to the values that have arisen.”
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Further information:
- Mémoire présenté par le Comité sur le patrimoine religieux de l’Assemblée des évêques catholiques du Québec
- Patrimoine religieux: un SOS aux élus (Le Soliel)
- Catholic bishops in Quebec want government help (Maclean’s)
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