Salem St. Joe's
Friday's edition of the Daily Chief "Group going to trial over the closure of parish" has caused many to ask, "What should be done with the church at Salem?"
The basic point brought out in the article was that Bishop Blair, in his deposition, said that what happens to Salem's church is up to Father Kaufman. The goal is now to set up some type of "a settlement conference to hopefully resolve the issues". Salem's lawyer said that "Transfiguration Parish is to decide what they want to do with the property."
The paper said that trial dates have been set, but that most cases can be settled out of court.
It would be great if all this could be settled out of court. Hopefully the two parties can sit down prayerfully and resolve the suit.
posted by Karen @ 8:56 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Why don't they just give it back ?
I have not wrote on this blog for a long time. I do not think that most things will ever help what the Diocese has already screwed up. But this topic about Salem Church makes me think that maybe something good finally can be done.
The church that closed Salem does not seem to want to do anything constructive with the property. So why not let the people have it?
Someone e-mailed the following comment to me:
"Oh my, hard question. I really don't think I have any idea their feeling and it should be left up to them to decide for peace inside of them. I will continue to pray for the right decision."
The bigger question is should the parish have been closed at all. There seems to be an agenda that the diocese wants and really dosen't care about the people they affect. We now see that the pope has asked for Latin masses to be offered to any parish that would ask for it.Does this mean they were wrong in tearing out the high alters in the past? We have also seen California pay out over 700 million to cover up the truth so that the cardinal and bishops would not go to jail. I guess the pope could have taken them to Rome like Cardinal Law and promote them also. It is so sad that these are the people that we have entrusted our faith to. Decisions should be made by all people, not just those that carry a title. GOD BLESS !!!!
Yes, when the church as a governing body, wants to change things, it says that the Spirit is at work.
When the people see a need for change, they are criticized for not being good, obedient Catholics?
I was just reading a Catholic magazine article entitiled, "Big Dreams, Daily Details". The dean of a university was handing out diplomas to newly- graduated doctors. He asked each graduate, "What are you going to do with your life?"
He later told the audience that one man said, "I'm going to be a world-class brain surgeon." while another said, "I'm going to turn left and walk very carefully down these three steps."
The author said that both got it right. She said, "The trick is to balance the two- to become a top neurosurgeon and manage not to fall over your feet going down the next three steps, to play your own unique part in the great unfolding of God's dream for creation while carefully discernig the step immediately ahead on the slippery pathways of your personal circumstance.
The big vision without the daily detail is merely day-dreaming. The daily detail without the big dream can become just a toilsome trudge."
I am hoping that what happens to Salem's church is a combination of big vision and daily detail. I'm sure if the Pastoral Council, The Finance Counsel, the Task Force and the people from Salem sat down together with Father, a solution could be reached.
'Big Vision' with 'Daily Detail' instead of 'Daydreaming and Trudging'. It's time to "turn left and walk very carefully."
The key thought there, Karen, is that you included ALL of the Key Players. I would think that any discussion would automatically involve all of the groups you mentioned. And all in one room, at one time, so there could be no misunderstandings, misinterpretations or misrepresentations of what one group “says”, or “recommends”. Most of us know that these groups are officially “advisory” in nature and that the priest can accept or totally ignore the advice. Correct me if I am wrong, but the groups you mention, with the exception of the Salem parishioners, have been “hand-picked” by Father after nominations from parishioners or council members. If I were leading an organization and faced with this kind of a serious situation, you bet I would get all of my hand-picked advisors together, even the ones I know might not agree with me. I would venture to guess that if these groups had been brought together regularly when the serious situation of parish closings began, this problem wouldn't be happening at this moment.
Post a Comment
<< Home