Cornwall Standard Freeholder
04 February 2011
With more pews than parishioners in some of its churches, and less money in the collection baskets, the harsh reality is that the Diocese of Alexandria- Cornwall will need to close more churches in the near future.
As we reported Thursday, the possibility of closing one of the three francophone Roman Catholic churches in the city is being discussed. The three are Nativite Parish Co-Cathedral, Paroisse Ste-Croix and Ste-Felix-de- Valois.
No decision has been made if and when any one of the churches will be shuttered, but it should not come as a shock if later this year Bishop Paul- Andre Durocher announces that at least one, perhaps two, city parishes are to be mothballed.
The writing is on the wall.
It won’t be an easy call and it is certain to upset many of those affected.
For many of the faithful, especially those who have been members of a parish for a lifetime, a church closing is like losing a member of the family.
It is a sensitive issue, even with those who are not regular churchgoers.
While it seems to be hit harder than other faiths, Roman Catholic churches aren’t alone when it comes to steep declines in attendance/ support.
A report on church closings by the London Free Press, a Sun Media paper, noted that the United Church, Canada’s largest denomination, is now closing about one church a week. In the past 10 years it has closed 400 churches. In its heyday, the United Church was opening one church a week, sometimes two and three.
In British Columbia, one Anglican diocese has earmarked 18 churches for closing.
Most recent census data show that Salvation Army affiliation has declined 29%.
Presbyterian and Pentecostal denominations also have seen membership slide in the last 10 years.
Along with too many churches and increasing costs to keep them open, the Roman Catholic Church is struggling with a shortage of priests with no light at the end of the tunnel. In Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese, many priests are working far past normal retirement age in the secular workplace.
Bishop Durocher faces some tough decisions but the fact is an acute shortage of priests, declining attendance and increasing costs mean only one thing: downsizing and amalgmation is needed.
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Comments on this Article.
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what tough call does he have to do read this article and tell me why the church attendance is down
Roman Catholic diocese to pay sex abuse victims $1.5 million
Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/Roman+Catholic+diocese+abuse+victims+million/4226600/story.html#ixzz1D2xVj44Y
Post #1 By dodger,
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I bet that won’t be allowed after all the diocese contributes a lot of money to our local newspaper
Post #2 By dodger,
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the catholic church as a whole has definitely been in denial for a very long time and do not deserve the faith of their followers they have let them down greatly by allowing a few snakes in their garden of eden to molest children instead of outing them they chose to protect the criminals that did the crimes to children.
Post #3 By dodger,
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Any loss of attendance by their flock is a direct result of their lack of leaders in the church that recognize that a crime is a crime. Stop hiding behind your veil of hypocracy.
Post #4 By dodger,
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Read the article again “dodger”…ALL CHURCHES and Denominations are involved including the Sallyann! Do you support your faith? Throwing stones is a means of denying guilt.
Post #5 By thespider
Talk of lack of funds and church closures on the 4th, and special guest Bishop Rouleau there fund-raising for the missions on the 16th!