Posted on 08/19/2016 4:36:10 PM PDT by annalex
(Paris)
France mayor tear down Catholic churches to build parking lots or shopping centers. The renovation costs were too high. 2800 churches will disappear in this way, according to a report by the French Senate.
In France, the controversy over the demolition of Catholic churches is not new. They are dilapidated and abandoned. Yet every time rises violent protest from the population if a church to be razed. "People feel that more than a few walls are torn. You feel a fundamental change in their environment, their culture and thus their own being, "wrote Claude Villot, who is not in the Ultramontanism suspicion.
Recent cases listed the Catholic daily La Croix on: Saint-Blaise du Breuil in Allier, Saint-Pie-X in Hérault, Saint-Jacques d'Abbeville in Somme (image) and Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens in Gesté in the department Maine-et-Loire. The number of demolished since 2000 in France Catholic churches is estimated at 20th More 250 may soon follow. According to a report by the French Senate, the number of churches that are destined to disappear from the French countryside, estimated at 2,800. Most of them are located in rural areas.
"Fewer priests, less faithful, less demand", that is the new mantra of local politicians
"Fewer priests, fewer exhibitions, fewer practicing believers, therefore less need to obtain large churches when a chapel would be sufficient." This is the new mantra, wrote Guy Massin Le Goff, preservationists, 2009 in his report La polémique autour de la démolition of églises: le cas du Maine-et-Loire. It is this formula that causes many commune, the termination of a preferable refurbishment. The numerous, revolutionary intervention, which transgressed the French State in the course of history on church property, many churches are owned by the municipalities.
"Calculating the use of churches only on the basis of measuring, Sundays or weekdays, the reality would be not to display properly," said the expert. "A church is not only a place that is open to the Eucharist, or for baptisms, weddings or funerals. It is utilized primarily for the personal prayer of the faithful. show The lighted candles, that there are varied and numerous reasons to knock at the church door, whether alone or in small groups, "said Massin Le Goff, who sharply criticized the mayor of Anjou, one of the historical landscapes of French Catholicism because of ease with which they decide the demolition of churches. In some cases, dilapidation of the church is simply assumed to implement new development can, which the church stands in the way.
"What would this place without his Church?" - What no "profit" brings, must go
Massin Le Goff recalled that arose in most cases, the place around the church and not vice versa. The church demolish mean tear their focus and wipe out their own past. "What would this place without his Church?", So the first question, the Massin Le Goff arises wherever he shall be called. As exemplary of preservationists called the decision of the General Council of Maine et Loire , to also provide funds for renovation of churches available that are not listed.
For Beatrice de Andia, the founder of the Documentation Centre for the religious heritage is what is happening in France, most disturbing: "For the first time we are destroying places of worship for no apparent reason, to make room for parking, restaurants, shops, places or apartments. The message of the demolitions is clear: the religious, the sacred, cultural heritage, what, no gain 'brings, must give way. The destroyer present themselves as brave managers who are concerned about the municipal treasury, which, according to them, the cost of renovation of the church could not bear. "Maintenance" but is a duty of the mayor, "said de Andia.
Rural parishes dramatically reduced - Fewer priests, deacons more: opposite tendency
One of the reasons for the "light" demolition orders is the progressive decline of priests in France. In 2001 there were, according to officials of the Bishops' Conference still 24,251 diocesan and religious priests. In 2008 there were only 19,640, of which 15,008 diocesan priests. Their number was 31 December 2011 (are new statistics are not yet available) dropped to 13,822. 2011, there were 13,630 parishes. In recent years, new parishes were established in order to take the changes into account demographic of the bishops. The new parishes are concentrated in the cities, especially on the edges, while the rural areas are increasingly orphaned. There the parishes were dramatically reduced by merging two or more parishes. At the head of territorial large parishes is a priest, but strengthened deacons are involved, their numbers are growing in the opposite tendency to decline in priests. And at many place laymen.
Came across this, accidentally.
Sad.
Church was the center of village life in many countries.
When the churches leave the mosques will be built.
For ultimately man needs to believe in something bigger than himself.
The problem isn’t too few churches. The problem is too few Christians.
Europe is a mission field.
Freedom of religion doesn’t work with Islam.
I’m looking back more fondly to the days of an established church (Church of England there, Catholic in France).
Well, the truth (the Truth) is getting its pants on.
This is not a time for despair...but for hope.
The Catholic church was the center of my life growing up. Our lives were simple, peaceful and centered around family and faith.
France became secularized after their revolution. Why people forget this, I don’t know. Many religious lost their lives during the Reign of Terror of 1797.
France became secularized after their revolution. Why people forget this, I don’t know. Many religious lost their lives during the Reign of Terror of 1797.
>Europe is a mission field.<
.
And the muzzies are the new missionaries in the West.
How sad for people to see the church building in which they were baptized, being torn down or converted to a beer hall.
The Catholics are still there. I bet they will build new churches in the future as the Muslims are defeated.
Pray the Rosary for the Catholics to come back to the Church.
All they need to do is sit down and talk with a priest to get their questions answered.
I remember that there wwere churches every few blocks in the city.
At all times of the day one could walk into any of the churches.
And see workers and business men and housewives scattered throughout. Taking a brief break from their labors.
The church remains the center, except now the center is empty.
These are a part of the same problem. Of course, a Christian makes the church. But also a church makes the Christian.
An empty church is still speaking to the man: “I am your home”. He has to form an answer. Now that voice is silenced.
Freedom of religion does not work outside of the Christian context.
Yes. The French Revolution all but destroyed France. We are looking at its aftermath.
I fear they need to experience the whole depth of their secularization. Those who survive it will rebuild France.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.