Catholic Parishioners Call on the Archdiocese of Chicago to Not Sell Shuttered Churches to Developers

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 3/3/21 | Manny Ramos

[marshmallow]

The self-proclaimed “God Squad” represents 25 parishes and churches that have shuttered or are on the cusp of closure and have filed canonical appeals to save the buildings.

Over two dozen parishioners called out the Archdiocese of Chicago on Wednesday for what they say is putting profit over the faithful by closing a number of churches over the last several years.

Julie Sawicki, president of the Society of St. Adalbert, which looks to preserve St. Adalbert Church in Pilsen, said immigrants like her family came to Chicago to help build these churches that are now on the verge of being sold to developers.

“When our immigrant ancestors toiled and saved their pennies, nickels and dimes to build these magnificent houses of worship for our entire community, these churches were turned over to the Catholic church for stewardship” Sawicki said. “I don’t think any of my Polish immigrant ancestors imagined a day would come where negotiations for this would be done with real estate developers.”

Parishioners gathered in front of the defunct All Saints St. Anthony Church, 518 W. 28th Place, in protest of the archdiocese’s Renew my Church program, which they say has been used for closing churches in the Chicago area.

The self-proclaimed “God Squad” represents 25 parishes and churches that have shuttered or are on the cusp of closure and have filed canonical appeals to save the buildings.

“It is especially disappointing and painful that the Archdiocese of Chicago embarked on a path of closure, liquidation and sale instead of one of renewal and revitalization,” Sawicki said. “Cardinal [Blase] Cupich we ask you please follow canon law, guide the faithful, cater to the faithful, not to investors.”

[hinckley buzzard]

Cleveland has gone through this painful experience beginning some years ago. Catholic churches in older once ethnic neighborhoods were closed due frankly to lack of parishioners. Neighborhoods change and history is lost. A once Hungarian neighborhood with a church built by old world craftsmen, magnificent windows, stonework, and wood work, irreplaceable, worthy of museum pieces, just basically abandoned because the people moving in couldn’t care less about such things. To be honest, I don’t think the diocese cared either. They were too busy negotiating confidential settlements with sexual abuse victims of abuser priests.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

So sad. So sad.

[kearnyirish2]

The problem as the Church rakes in the cash from this downsizing is that it is hard to make the case to struggling Catholics that they should give. We see the sales going on, and we see our own financial straits - who needs the money more? My family does.