They be busy...
Posted on 08/13/2019 9:36:51 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
SCOTT TOWNSHIP, Pa. - An Allegheny County church has canceled its annual festival because of a disturbing message.
According to a news release from the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Our Lady of Grace parish in Scott Township received a handwritten letter in late July that read, in part: "Cancel August 14-17 Festival Security Problem is Huge."
Tuesday, the festival for the upcoming week was canceled, even though there was no direct threat. With recent mass shootings, organizers did not want to take the risk.
The sender still hasn't been identified.
The diocese released a statement:
"The loss of income to Our Lady of Grace Parish and School, and to vendors who were scheduled to work at the festival, pales in comparison to the loss of lives in Dayton, El Paso, Squirrel Hill and too many other places. The diocese supports the decision to not risk becoming another name in that tragic litany, but we mourn the loss of carefree community that should be the hallmark of these joyous events."
Churches seem to serve as kook magnets unfortunately. My former pastor used to get anonymous kook letters on a regular basis. Used to show me some of them. Whacko stuff.
So everybody loses out on the fun and the funding. Welcome to America, 2019.
It costs a lot more money to put on a festival these days. The amount of security needed is significantly increased.
Christians need to realize - we are quickly moving from a society where Christianity was the warp and woof of the culture and acceptance was commonly agreed upon, to one where society is hostile. The need to grow a spine and teach bravery is paramount.
I understand its difficult for those who grew up in the former society to change their mindset from such an easy and relaxed situation, to one where you are attacked and maligned constantly. Many won't be able to accept this challenge and will fall away.
Sore subject with me. I was a regular volunteer at my church’s festival. One year I had to break-up a fight between two young women. Serious stuff as they were wailing on each other pretty good.
The Parish had hired 3 off-duty police officers to provide security. Of course none of them were anywhere to be found when this brawl broke out.
Between security costs, and likely increased insurance costs, these will out a damper on organizations of any kind having their recreational activities such as this festival.
There is truth in that. Our festival had to ditch the dunking booth. The insurance premium for that would have been more than the profits from the entire festival.
Is that the large church on Greentree road? That is a HUGE festival.
Remember when they canceled the St. Basil Festival in Carrick? Different reason, though.
I sat with a pastor whose life was under constant threat. He spoke of standing firm, he also spoke of his knowledge that his wife and children would be enveloped and cared for by all of us.
I had another whose teenage boys were threatened with male gang rape at their school.
Same situation with me but the Church had not hired any security. Three people fighting and me in the middle. The next year they hired security and everyone was given a radio. No way would I jump in on a situation like that again.
In America 2019,any public event can now be a blood bath. So just pulling a hoax will work just as well to terrorize.
They be busy...
No you are thinking of St. Simon and Jude.
This church is on Bower Hill Road.
I think it’s equally as big though.
... and they risk very costly settlement if anything happens. Even with a vague threat.
And the Catholic Church has sure had their fill of costly settlements recently...
A friends church has had a fete/carnival annually for 60+ years. It has become a big event. This year they were told by the State they had to have a Homeland Security threat analysis done, and make room for command center at their event. Their event makes money for the church, but I can’t imagine how much security costs eat up now.
This is their “tithe” to the gubmint workforce.
I couldn’t imagine these events are very profitable anymore - just at a time when churches (at least most Catholic ones) need them more than ever to deal with dwindling flocks.
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