[ottbmare]

However, if the Vatican is going to forbid putting up ugly churches, it’s also going to have to tell parishes where to find money for the staggering cost of glorious artwork, splendid materials, and a much taller and more elaborate structure. Marble and gold don’t come cheap.

One possible solution: I read about some Catholic parish that needed a new church in the South somewhere. They bought, disassembled, moved, and reassembled a church building that was no longer being used in the North. It was more expensive but also more beautiful in the long run.

[AnAmericanMother]

That's Mary Our Queen in Norcross, GA. They're trying to move St. Gerard Majella's old building from Buffalo, NY.

They've taken a lot of flak from Buffalo, especially preservationists who want to "save" the church building but have no suggestions about how to do that (or how to fund it, or what to do with it once they have "saved" it.)

With the economy being so bad, the fundraising for moving the church building seems not to be going anywhere, which is a shame. It's a beautiful building and it's rotting where it stands in Buffalo with the roof leaking like a sieve and no heat during the winter.

Lots of pictures in an earlier thread here:

Georgia pastor visits St. Gerard's

[NYer]

if the Vatican is going to forbid putting up ugly churches, it’s also going to have to tell parishes where to find money for the staggering cost of glorious artwork, splendid materials, and a much taller and more elaborate structure. Marble and gold don’t come cheap.

There are many creative solutions that don't involve the Vatican. Take for example Mary Our Queen RC Church in Norcross, GA. As the number of parishioners increased, it outgrew its present structure.

Mary Our Queen RC Church

After exploring the costs of building a new church, they considered moving a church no longer in use.

St. Gerard Church in Buffalo NY

Relocating the 98-year-old St. Gerard Church from Buffalo cost an estimated $15 million. Estimates of what it would cost to build a similar style church at today’s prices top $40 million. You can read the story of this enterprising venture below.

Moving A Church From Buffalo To Norcross

To that end, they have set up a web site for that specific purpose.

Moved by Grace

[cothrige]

However, if the Vatican is going to forbid putting up ugly churches, it’s also going to have to tell parishes where to find money for the staggering cost of glorious artwork, splendid materials, and a much taller and more elaborate structure. Marble and gold don’t come cheap.

Marble and gold are great, but hardly necessary. I have been to many very simple and yet very beautiful and reverent churches. They have statues that are not gaudy or oversized, but are classic and attractive. And they actually have them. They have a crucifix rather than some modern art fiasco. They have aisles that point in one direction so people know when and where to genuflect. This round, auditorium style churches are not cheaper to build. They are just ugly. They are uninspiring and not oriented to proper Catholic liturgical practices. A church doesn't have to be a Gothic basilica in order to be beautiful. It just needs to be oriented to true worship.