Catholic church in Detroit becomes mosque (did we not see this coming!)

Closed Cafeteria ^ | October 29, 2006 | Gerald Augustinus

[NYer]

The neighborhood already is predominantly Islamic. From Detroit News:
The Islamic Center of North Detroit has a purchase agreement with the Archdiocese of Detroit for Our Lady Help of Christians' five buildings, which tentatively are planned to be used for an Islamic community center, larger worship space and possibly a school.

The conversion of the Detroit buildings, on the Hamtramck border, from church to Muslim center underscores how much the community's makeup has changed. Long-entrenched Catholic churches have had to downsize as their congregations moved to the suburbs and other immigrant groups moved in.

Hamtramck and nearby Detroit neighborhoods flourished in the early 1900s when automotive jobs attracted Eastern European immigrants, primarily from Poland. The Poles brought their culture, foods and Catholic faith to Hamtramck and soon Polish-themed restaurants, markets and churches sprung up in the area.

But in a trend familiar to immigrants in scores of other neighborhoods across the country, the Poles eventually started moving to the suburbs, especially to Sterling Heights and Warren.
...

The pending sale of the building to a mosque is a first for the Archdiocese of Detroit, though it has already leased one of its properties to Muslims. Officials declined to say where.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood has evolved from a predominantly Polish one to a neighborhood with many immigrants hailing from Bangladesh, a mostly Muslim nation near India, and India.

Census data shows the neighborhood's Asian population exploded from 249 people with Asian ancestry in 1990 to 421 Bangladeshi and 530 Indian residents in 2000. In contrast, the Polish population slid from 878 to 394 in the same period.

Among the new residents is Mohammed Moshon, who is from Bangladesh. He is looking forward to the expansion of his mosque, where upward of 300 parishioners attend Friday prayers. He's especially glad there might be a school that could be an alternative to Detroit Public Schools for his two sons and daughter.

"It's going to be good for the neighborhood," said Moshon, "because (the mosque) is going to take care of the community."

John Gorman, who has lived across the street from the Catholic complex for 13 years, is glad the buildings vacated by the Catholics won't stand empty.

"We've got enough abandoned buildings in the world," said Gorman, who is not a member of the church or mosque. "We don't need any more."

Gorman has watched his neighborhood change over the years and says the Bangladeshis are nice, quiet neighbors who have brought the laughter of children back to the aging neighborhood. But not everyone is pleased.

Watching the mosque take down the crosses, Polish icons and other Catholic symbols is going to be difficult for Bart Nowak.

"They are going to destroy the place," said Nowak, who moved to the neighborhood from Poland with his parents in 1999.

[Nateman]

At least it was bought and paid for legally. Not a war trophy that is then converted.

[NYer]

Detroit is also home to a very large Maronite Catholic community.

In that vein, I would like to thank ALL of you who have included my parish, St. Ann's Maronite Catholic Church and my pastor, Abouna Elie Kairouz, in your prayers. As you know, Father purchased an old Methodist/Episcopal Church in nearby Watervliet, several years ago, with the intent of relocating his congregation there. The church was in a poor state of disrepair and required extensive restoration. Moreover, being a Protestant Church, there is no Sancturary. That entails reconfiguring the interior to conform to our Catholic faith.

Three years ago, we began the process of having the future church recognized as an historic landmark. It qualified and was so declared in December 2005. That qualified us for matching state grants and we began the process in March of this year. The grant forms are quite detailed and must match a theme. This year's theme focused on the Hudson River and Erie Canalways. Undaunted, we completed the forms and hand delivered them at the midnight hour.

80+ applicants applied for these matching grants. From that number, 37 met the state qualifications. From that number, only 6 grants were awarded and we were one of them!

Thank you ALL for your prayers!

[AnAmericanMother]

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

[Argus]

I think I'd rather see our churches demolished than turned into mosques.

[VOA]

dhimmitude bump

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"I think I'd rather see our churches demolished than turned into mosques."

It's yet more "Muslim land" that they believe will always belong to them no matter who owns it later. Can someone please tell me WHY our leaders have decided we need more Muslims in this country - to the extent that they actively import same?

[livius]

That's my feeling, too. I wish the dioceses wouldn't sell these churches for mosques. Tear them down and sell the land.

[Maeve]

This is so stupid.

The Archdiocese should have had an ounce of mission-mindedness and brought over Eastern Catholic clergy and nuns from India to take this church and EVANGELIZE this muslim community!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Maeve]

There is even an order of nuns in Bangladesh I know of -- MAN THIS MAKES ME MAD!!!!!!!!!

[Maeve]

Our mission is to bring Christ to the world -- and when the world comes to us, what do we do, Retreat. This is a perfect example of exactly what we should not be doing in these situations.

And finally tear the church down to the ground and sell the land. Don't let the buildings become the haunt of the enemies of Christ Jesus!

[Palladin]

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you, your pastor, and the congregation.

[Domestic Church]

Our Lady Help of Christians!

[Clemenza]

Much like the last episode of Little House on the Prairie.

[Maeve]

NYer, that is the most wonderful news about your parish and your dear Abuna. God rewards faithfulness every time. I am so happy for St. Ann's!

Your fine post certainly is the opposite of this other Detroit story. God bless your priest and parish!

[nanetteclaret]

This really seems sacriligious to me. "Our Lady Help of Christians," no less! I can't think of a worse title for Our Lady to be converted to a mosque. Who is the bishop? (or archbishop?) A major statement has been made here, but I'm not sure what it is. All I can hear is "nyah, nyah, nyah" from the other side ...

[Fischer1483]

"I wish the dioceses wouldn't sell these churches for mosques. Tear them down and sell the land."

With all the environmental considerations now, it costs an enormous amount of money to tear down a building the size of a large church. The property is obviously much more valuable to the Muslims with a church on it. The dioceses are very much in need to money due to all the lawsuits regarding pedophile priests.

So, all this boils down to is money. I'm opposed to what the diocese did, but I understand why they did it.

[HighlyOpinionated]

This is a mistake. But no one will realize how big a mistake it is until the little Bangladesh children grow up having been schooled in Arabic and the Koran.

Give it, say five to ten years and there will be little Bangladesh boys with bomb-vests terrorizing the city. And little girls "married" to men old enough to be their fathers.

God help us and help the USA.

[Tax-chick]

Congratulations! You were my all-night prayer intention more than once. One of those saints with a lot of kids was obviously listening ... maybe a Lebanese mother we won't hear about until we get to Heaven :-).