The Parishioners of St. Ann's have been fighting hte closing for over two years now - with no results. The Chancery either will not repond at all, or merely reponds with half truths and lies.
Egan wants the money from the sale of the property - that is all! It is surrounded with college dorms, nightspots, etc., and is in a thriving - though unchurched community.
It should also be noted, that in this heavily populated area of Manhattan, filled with youth who do not know God, he intends to close at least 3 other churches! So much for zeal for souls!
According to Canon Law, a bishop may not close a parish until every possible avenue of recourse has been explored, and the parishioners are consulted for their advice, input, solutions. Here there was no problem, as the parish was obviously self-sustaining economically, and had an active congregation. Needless to say, the parishioners WER NOT consulted - just thrown out! This is in clear violation of Canon Law - which Egan was the cheif author of in the 1983 revision!
It had been given to the Armenian Catholics in 1983 as their Cathedral - In perpetuity - by them Cardinal Cooke. The Armenians were s amll group....but wit the help of the NO parishioners, which included a very active Ecuadorian community, as well as those who attended a Tridentine Mass, the place was able to pay its bills for ordinary expenses.
It should be noted that the $500,000 raised for the restoration would have been much, much more, had not the Ecuadorians donated their physical labor & sweat out of love for God and St. Ann to do a lot of hte work themselves. Teh work included roofing, heating, and central AC....as well as the first parint job in some 50 years! This restored many of the hidden beauties of the historic church.
The parishioners will have no chance to sace any of the antiquities from the church.....as the scanvenger NO priests are going to take away anything they want: statues, baptismal font, etc. I am sure that most of the stained glass - which is over a century old, and priceless, will become landfill.
Read through the anti-abomination.com site for the full story.
I pray the lawyers and prosecutors pursue this case with zeal and uncompromising diligence to determine the truth. Unless there is truth there can be no justice,the Church cannot heal nor can God or man be merciful. Justice cannot prevail in the absence of facts,let us pray that the prosecutors get to the facts. This must come before another appeal for forgiveness, only then can mercy be even considered..
These days truth seems to be the missing ingredient as we struggle to "heal".
I have been disappointed,maybe even disgusted with Egan since 9/11 when he,representing the Catholic Church,gave the most pathetic,pitiful sermon or talk. There was nothing of the transcendent beauty and comfort the Church provides for the souls lost and the survivors suffering loss and pain. Nothing,nothing but blather. I don't believe he even mentioned Jesus Christ during the entire monologue.
Yes,this is a small little man and may this Church closing,while not related to the scandal or his monologue,put a spotlight on him and his deficiencies that he cannot escape. A spotlight that follows him like the hound of heaven until he drops from exhaustion or is trapped in a cage.
Glad I got that off my chest.
This is terrible! I can't believe it.