Readers may be interested in an article we just published over at SavingOurParish.com. It contains a great deal of information gathered and put together over many weeks. Please take the time to read it, if only to be informed. Whatever is admirable about it is through the talent of Susan. Whatever is not can be laid at my feet.
Where Have All the Catholic Churches Gone?
I just finished your article what an eye opener!
ReplyDeleteIf you do nothing else today please take te time to read this article it explains in so many ways why we are where we are. Bless you both and those who labor with you to save St. Vincents Church!
Finally, the pieces are all put together. Thank you Susan and Gretchen for pouring your hearts into this article. It all makes sense now; the nonsense we are experiencing is a systematic plan developed by our Diocese to pad their own packets at the expense of parish Churches. It makes me sick to my stomach. Please forward this article to every parishioner you know, yes, even to Dean, his staff and his followers. It's time to pull back the curtains and expose the truth.
ReplyDeleteAnn
I feel betrayed by our Bishop, our Diocese and Deacon Dean Condon. What a shame and what a sham. I will not give one more nickel to support the parish- I have no reason to trust that our current leadership will faithfully manage our money, as they collaborate with the Diocese of Rochester.
ReplyDeleteWow, in one article, you've not only solved the St. Vincent's problem, but also the Kennedy assassination, the Lindbergh kidnapping and the Roswell cover up.
ReplyDeleteAs a piece of conspiracy theory, it's a pretty nifty read. As a piece of journalism, it's an epic fail.
It does to to prove that if someone wants to see something, they'll see it, even when the evidence isn't there.
Ah. One of The Leader's best has condescended to read the article. Thanks for the 'professional' critique, 4:02 p.m.
ReplyDeleteThanks for outing me, Gretchen. I expected it because I know that's how you roll. You're like Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. You like a rigged game.
ReplyDeleteJust take the medicine. :-)
ReplyDeleteTouche, Gretchen, and nicely done. I did not expect humor. You win this round.
ReplyDeleteWell 4:02: This is no game fella. As far as winning, for sure The journalism we see from Susan and Gretchen is hands down superior to anything else we've seen reported anywhere on this subject including the mis-leader. There is no conspiracy theory here. This information was all out there it just took some work to connect the dots. Lets see how long it takes the leader to pick it up and put the truth in print for a change.........
ReplyDeleteThe Leader reporting the facts? Ha.
ReplyDeleteGreat job ladies. We have much to ponder.
Let's not waste our time or space on The Leader reporter. All we have to do is recall the conspiracy twist it printed after the flier went to the neighborhood urging folks to be aware of the plans FOR THE CHURCH. Enough said. We don't need to engage in that reporter's kind of adversarial claptrap. Instead, let's keep a focus on the well done factual, enlightening and distrubing article that needs to be shared with others interested in saving the Catholic Faith in Corning through the presence of local churches whose members can carry out the mission given us through Baptism to care for the less fortunate, the sick and homebound. Our financial resources if not all sent to Rochester could be used here for that.Do we really need to send that much money to Rochester for Catholic Charities to do what we are called to do locally? What is our return for all we send to the DOR for Catholic Charities which includes Providence Housing? The loss of three churches? The loss of a PASTOR for an Administrator? A church torn down for housing? WOW
ReplyDeleteA friend shared this link with me:
ReplyDeletehttp://cleansingfiredor.com/2010/06/whats-up-with-the-bookkeeping-at-catholic-charities/
More troubling information.
The article is enlightening and troubling. I have no doubt that it is also truthful. If our friend from the Leader has facts to prove otherwise, let's see them.
ReplyDeleteYes, misLeader, set us straight. I, for one, would love to read your rebuttal.
ReplyDeleteNo rebuttal. I'm not questioning the facts, just the significance. If I'm reading it right, the Diocese sells underutilized buildings and the Providence House funnels some of the proceeds of the sale to Catholic Charities.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for the part I should care about.
Not exactly correct, 7:47. I think the part that Catholics might care about is how money is drained from the parishes each year through the CMA. No matter that parishes and schools are financially struggling - the DOR sets a goal for each parish and each parish must send the money to Rochester, through savings if needed. So much for fixing the church roof etc. Note that a significant part of the CMA appeal goes to Catholic Charities and in turn, to Providence Housing, one of their subsidiaries.
ReplyDeleteWhen the parishes can no longer afford their properties (the CMA is part of that), sometimes Providence Housing steps in to buy at a very low price. So a parishioner sends needed money to Rochester to support a subsidiary (which also receives govt funds) that then buys the church property cheaply.
If the article were of no significance, our dear adversary in the press would never have commented.
ReplyDeleteI think the diocese and parish are run by such narcissism that people want to think the worst no matter what decisions are made. This is not a good character trait for church leaders.
ReplyDeleteAssuming altruistic motives, one must look at outcomes.
ReplyDelete7:47 Please define "underutilized property". If you are referring to Saint Vincent's, chew on this:
ReplyDelete1) A tabernacle is the the Church= Jesus lives there
2) Masses are held in the Church= People come there
3) Confessions are heard in the Church= Sins are forgiven there
4) There is a baptimal font= The young and the old are welcomed into the Church there
5) Those in love are married there and those who have passed away are remembered there
Underutilized? I think not.
Mary
You think I commented on this, Gretch, because I find it of some significance? No. I look at you as a jar of flies that I shake up every once in a while when I get bored at work. Getting you guys agitated is entertaining to me.
ReplyDeleteNotice that this post has gotten more comments than most of your others you've posted lately? Face it, honey pie. You're losing people's interest and you need me to keep things lively.
10:15, you represent The Leader? You've confirmed people's worst beliefs about the publication. So much for fairness and representing various views. I hope your boss doesn't know how bored you get at work. I haven't seen an investigative piece of journalism at The Leader in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI don't represent anyone except myself.
ReplyDeleteIf that's the case, thank you very much for your assistance.
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous 10:15
ReplyDeleteIf you want to add anything substantial to the discussion I would hope you would do so but if you want to just do friendly battle with Gretchen I have two suggestions for you. Identify yourself by name as she has the courage to do. Your identity as a reporter for the Leader is not fair to your colleagues and is what you do not who you are. If that is not to your liking then meet with Gretchen face to face. The issue we are facing in our church community is not funny. This blog is for those who want to share information, personal thoughts and feelings about the issue of demolition of SVC or the overall plan of closures and selling of church property. Gretchen and Susan have done a tremendous service to us in helping us follow the money and see how we are giving to the same people who are selling us out.
I don't believe this person is from the Leader- I think this person is from the parish office. Is there a way to check Gretchen?
ReplyDeleteIt is not from the parish office. There were two page-loads at 10:15 -- one at 10:15:33 and one at 10:15:41. Both are from The Leader.
ReplyDeleteIP addresses usually do not identify names, other than the service provider, like Roadrunner or AOL. The Leader, however, is identified in its IP address.
The bigger issue here, is not that a reporter at The Leader likes to stir things up, but that parishioners are being forced to pay for the destruction of parishes and church properties throughout the DOR through the CMA appeal, as well as their taxes.
The Star Gazette might be interested in a good story about a bad reporter from the Corning Leader.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck would someone from the Leader have to gain by stirring the pot? If this reporter thinks he's on to something big, why not go public with it? Why is he hiding behind a blog?
ReplyDeleteLet's see....the Corning Leader...pro-large school/ pro-large Church? Pro-closing old schools/pro-closing old Churches? Hmmm...someone connect the dots: Why is the Leader working against efforts to save Saint Vincent's? Think folks. We're missing something here.
ReplyDeleteWho really cares what some reporter from the Leader thinks? I'm much more concerned about what God thinks!
ReplyDeleteI work for The Leader also ... Served mass for Fathers Slattery, Hogan, Brill etc. way back in the old days (and in Latin). Even graduated from St. Vincent's school. I do wonder why so many Corning and Painted Post catholics attend church in Addison and Campbell?
ReplyDeleteThis post sold me not another dime goes to the church or this Diocese, in fact I am writing the Diocese to tell them so.
ReplyDeleteI passed this link along to my church associates in Bath & H'port, caused quite a bit of consternation...people are upset by this info. However most cannot believe this is a preconcieved effort to fundamentally change the church. However the figures & information compiled are very revealing.
ReplyDeleteVinnie '69
10:40- Many left when Marie McCaig resigned but my family decided to hang in there. We finally left when Alene was terminated. I had never been to the Addison Church and we walked in with some trepidation. It is a different environment. However, we love it there. What has happened is that it has become the parish home for many other families that we know, who left for the same reason. We even get to sit behind Alene! I will never understand why the poor, disrespected and misguided Pastoral Administer remains. I guess we should look to the Diocese for this answer.
ReplyDeleteI recommend Good-bye! Good Men by Michael S. Rose. It talks about the crisis in vocations, specifically why some dioceses (even in the Northeast) have so many more vocations than others (such as Rochester).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I follow http://cleansingfiredor.com/, which focuses on the Church in the Rochester area. The craziness that people endure in some of the Rochester churches makes All Saints look orthodox.
To:10:40: I also was a member of St. Vincent's when Fr. Slattery, Fr. Guilfoil, Hogan and Fr. Brill were there. I would still be there if we even had a hint of the kind of leadership they offered us in the way they served the parish. They knew all, reached out to all, comforted the hurting, helped confused work through problems and above all lived the gospel in their very person. they would never let the parish get to the degree of division it now has. Even with the Latin the Liturgy offered a more sacred environment for prayer and Eucharist than what we have now. But please no return of Lastin. Thus, I go where I can give in peace and joy.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Father Lou is getting thrown under the bus. We need to clarify- he is a good and holy Priest, who is well deserving of the love this community has given him. He is not the problem. I feel like someone who tunes into this site might think that we are struggling with our Priest. Like the above mentioned Priests, he is serving us well. Our Pastoral Administrator is the problem.
ReplyDeleteI would say that he is pretty much universally loved in our parish.
ReplyDelete12:33 - agreed - the priests back at that time made everyone feel welcome - I live in Campbell now and attend St. Joe's - I fear that we will be shuttered some day - I think the Bishop is a good man but has his priorities misplaced at times.
ReplyDelete