Vatican again backs parishioners, orders re-opening of Pennsylvania churches
March 10, 2011
For the second time in less than a month, the Congregation for the Clergy has overturned a US diocese’s decision to close parish churches.
The Congregation found that the Diocese of Allentown failed to provide a “grave reason” to justify the closing of nine parish church buildings. While the buildings must reopen for worship, they will not necessarily reopen as parish churches: the Vatican upheld the diocese’s decision to merge parishes.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Rare Vatican reversal of US bishops' decision to close churches could herald policy shift
- Vatican backs parishioners, orders re-opening of Massachusetts churches (CWN, 2/15)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: stpetric -
Mar. 11, 2011 6:51 AM ET USA
Rome's countermanding the diocesan bishop's decision makes me vaguely uneasy. It seems to me an issue of subsidiarity that in a purely internal matter like this, the decision made at the local level should stand. In other words, the burden of adducing "grave reasons" for intervening should be on Rome, not the diocese.
-
Posted by: hartwood01 -
Mar. 10, 2011 10:37 PM ET USA
Not enough priests,not enough money. A problem.
