Bishop gets earful on new Cathedral

Oakland Tribune ^ | 08 May 2004 | Peggy Stinnett

[Tribune7]

That's money that should help the poor and homeless. Our priorities are wrong."

That's not a new concept.

[MegaSilver]

Heaven help us.

I know I should stop, but I can't help but look at this acursed design. It's like driving by a train wreck.

[pbear8]

Is that this Santiago Calatrava?

The self-same man.

Even though this is my diocese I will try never to enter this building!

[nickcarraway]

This article contains some information that is wrong. The previous bishop, Bishop Cummins arranged it so he would have full control of the cathedral, even after he was no longer bishop. Bishop Allen Vigneron has no control over the cathedral project whatsoever. It's very unfortunate, but that is the current situation. I will try to update this with more information later, but please bump all the people on this thread to this, so there is no misunderstanding.

[nickcarraway]

See post #65.

[nickcarraway]

Please read post #65. This project was in place before Bishop Vigneron came to the diocese, and he has been prevented from touching it.

[sinkspur]

Bishop Allen Vigneron has no control over the cathedral project whatsoever.

That's contrary to Canon Law. Vigneron could simply overrule him, if he chose, and Cummins wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

[drjoe]

can the Sidney Opera House sue for theft of Intellectual Property?

[nickcarraway]

I am trying to find out more information, and will post it. It may have been part of the agreement before Bishop Cummins would resign. I am not clear on all the details, but apparently Biship Vigneron has been forbidden from interfereing.

[NYer]

Dear Lord! It has the appearance of being inside the carcass of a dead whale.

Such a waste of funds! There are so many parishes like yours and mine that could benefit from only 1% of the estimated cost of this construction, to turn out a lovely refurbished church. And one, that would be filled with dignity, reverence and total respect for the Holy Eucharist!

What an atrocious and unnecessary waste of money!

[madison10]

It looks like a pointier version of Darth Vader's head & helmet.

[MegaSilver]

I am trying to find out more information, and will post it. It may have been part of the agreement before Bishop Cummins would resign. I am not clear on all the details, but apparently Biship Vigneron has been forbidden from interfereing.

Would you mind pinging me when you post it?

[nickcarraway]

I definitely will. I already made one phone call, and I will let you know when I hear back.

There are many problems for Bishop Vigneron in that diocese, and it's going to be very hard for him to fix them. Some parishes have cut off all contact with the diocese. Some employees of the diocese basically pretend the bishop is not there.

[MegaSilver]

Thanks. That's rather odd... is it a couple of extremely liberal parishes cutting off contact? If so, it would make a lot of sense.

[Desdemona]

The previous bishop, Bishop Cummins arranged it so he would have full control of the cathedral, even after he was no longer bishop. Bishop Allen Vigneron has no control over the cathedral project whatsoever.

Okay, how is this possible? If it is this way, there is a HUGE violation of canon law involved.

BTW, a lot of the Cathedrals were expensive to build (and are expensive to maintain). Ours wasn't cheap, but it was built with granite, marble, and stone. The mosiacs took 61 years to install. If it's done right, it's worth it. If it's not...

[technochick99]

I found this discussion, although I am not sure if it is the same. It certainly is similar:

http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?disc=209132;article=12170;title=Traditional%20Roman%20Catholicism

[steve86]

Religious sisters from India, for example, are already coming to America and working with the poor and despised

Yes, my wife was raised in a convent in Bombay for which I am eternally grateful. They taught her English and Latin, gave her a decent education, and instilled in her the true charitable meaning of Catholicism. Growing up here, I missed the Latin, and she had to translate the phrase at the end of your post for me.

Regarding the Temple to Materialism, I am appalled, but then we live in a mobile home and flamboyance always shocks us. I find myself secretly hoping that they are skimping on the earthquake reinforcements. They could save a lot of money by importing a plastic version of the Cathedral from China without diminishing the overall tawdriness of the presentation.

I know the Vatican wasn't built in a day or for a dollar, but it seems the magnificence and permanence of the seat of the Religion makes it a very special architectural case.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

That would be our abomination to the south in Los Angeles, otherwise known as the "sum of all heresies."

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

St. Mary's reminds me of a washing machine agitator.

Call the Maytag repairman!