Posted on 02/27/2007 2:56:24 PM PST by NYer
February 27, 2007 -- Edward Cardinal Egan pulled a fast one on a lower Manhattan parish pastor yesterday, summoning the priest to meet with him - then dispatching security guards to permanently lock the cleric's church doors.
The priest returned to Our Lady of Vilnius to find himself locked out - a brusque Egan move that left parishioners stunned and saddened.
The cardinal's move also occurred right before a scheduled meeting with Lithuania's consul general, who was set to make a plea to save the church, parishioners and the Archdiocese of New York said.
"Cardinal Egan again shows his true colors," said Peter Borre, a Boston man who is advising local parishioners in their efforts to avoid planned church closings by the archdiocese.
"This church has been here for 102 years. We're supposed to have a 12:15 p.m. Mass today and people were turned away crying," said the church's secretary, who gave only her first name, Joy.
"I find this unconscionable."
Egan's sneak attack came just days after The Post revealed that Lithuania's president had written a letter asking that he reverse a plan to close Our Lady of Vilnius on Broome Street, originally founded to serve natives of his country.
It also comes on the heels of his abrupt closure of an East Harlem church after parishioners there staged a one-day sit-in that ended in six arrests, and after two similar trespassing arrests at a Yonkers church that was being closed.
"It seems to be a vindictive act," said Ramute Zukas, president of the local chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community Inc., who has coordinated efforts to keep Our Lady of Vilnius open.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
It's hard to comment fully on all the facts. Surely, there might be times when a Church needs to be closed, and surely every time there are parishoners who don't want it closed. Then again, given Egan's record in CT, I tend to lean towards the "he's a snake" interpretation.
"Edward Cardinal Egan pulled a fast one on a lower Manhattan parish pastor yesterday, summoning the priest to meet with him - then dispatching security guards to permanently lock the cleric's church doors."
What a great guy.
I am sure that this really helps the flock to trust their shepherd.
You mean to tell me that there's only ONE key to this church?
Something smells fishy here...
Granted that it's Cardinal Egan's archdiocese, and to a certain degree he can do what he sees fit. But to abruptly close a parish seems to be at the very least very shady and very underhanded.
The least he could have done is wait for the Lithuanian dignitaries and the parishioners to make their pleas and then keep them involved (i.e. perhaps merging it with another parish).
This really doesn't seem right at all.
"Hey, look over there! Ha Ha, gotcha."
He must be saving the smoke and the mirrors for a different pastor.
Cardinal Egan is an evil monster in the pocket of the antichrist.
Maybe so, but we have to be obedient to our bishops, unless they're asking something that's intrinsically evil. This order doesn't qualify as such.
....like a thief in the night.
"Maybe so, but we have to be obedient to our bishops, unless they're asking something that's intrinsically evil. This order doesn't qualify as such."
This guy appears to be devious and deceitful.
I am unsure as to whether or not his order is intrinsically evil.
Perhaps we owe this bishop obedience in matters where he clearly acts within his rightful authority, but I would darn sure not trust him with my VISA card.
And I think the dear Cardinal has his staff theologian, you know, the priest who studied at "the Greg" and comes from a well-to-do family, brushing up on the ethics and at least licit use of equivocation, deadly force and hallucinagenic drugs. After all, its time for the Situation Ethics guys to step up to the plate. We're losing money here!!!
Just joking.
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