YNN and WETM have stories about the sale of Saint Vincent's. Here's a statement from Deacon Dean in the WETM coverage:
"Deacon Condon stated that only a small group of parishioners do not agree with the closure and that most parishioners he has spoken to agree with the administration."
Apparently he doesn't interact with parishioners too much.
I am really not sure where those people are that Dean speaks of? I for one have not found one person who agrees with this plan. You can walk on Market Street, go to Wegmans, at the football games everywhere you go its a hot topic and not only does the majority NOT want to see this happen they have other questions too, like how did it get this far to begin with? The majority feel that this current administration is totally CORRUPT !!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you anonymous 10:44: I have not found anyone who likes the idea of selling such a beautiful church either. I guess the people Dean speaks of are the ones on the payroll!
ReplyDeleteCanon 212, Section 3:
ReplyDelete"In accord with the knowledge, competence and preeminence which they possess, they [the Christian faithful] have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and they have a right to make their opinion known to other Christian faithful, with due regard for the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons."
Commentary
The right and even at times the duty to express one’s opinion about what is good for the Church is proclaimed in this canon. Such opinions are especially sought from qualified persons. They are to be expressed to Church authorities and, with due regard for public order, may also be made public to other Christians.
I would actually have to strongly agree with Dean. I understand all of your position and do not mean offense whatsoever. But, for every 10 "what do those people think they're going to accomplish?" or "those people are so un-Christian" or "[name of lady who create site] is crazy" I hear maybe one "Deacon Dean is bad"... Maybe that is just the ramblings in my social circle. I guess it depends on who you talk to. I do know, some people are fed up with this site. I just wish we could all find some unity instead of such angst towards one man...
ReplyDeleteI've been called worse, Steven. :-)
ReplyDeletePlease do not take offense, I do not know you. That was not a comment made by me. I was just trying to say that I sort of agree with his statement.
ReplyDeleteI forgive you...and them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is anything "crazy" about exercising one's freedom of speech to demand transparency and accountability in important decision making processes. According to Canon Law, lay people "have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church." What I do think is crazy is when people somehow justify the closing of a church by saying that it is an opportunity that "the Lord has provided," to quote the letter in this week's bulletin. So God wants us to close one of his own holy houses of worship...? That strikes me as illogical at best. In Europe almost every single church is hundreds of years old, and there are many within close walking distance of each other that stay open even today without a problem. They have gone through much, much worse than anything we have had here (two World Wars, Communism, etc.) Here it seems we can't even make it to 100 years. It's pathetic at how easily people give up.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that Gretchen is doing a wonderful service to our faith community by running this web site and providing a forum for people to speak freely on an issue that is of paramount importance for our community. Strictly speaking, it is our parish leader Deacon Dean who should be running such discussions and getting feedback from parishioners. Whether it's in Church or in the business world, this is part of what it means to be a good leader. It is unfortunate that he has not fulfilled these very basic qualities of good leadership, and in failing to do so he has left hundreds of frustrated parishioners with no voice in the matter. God bless you, Gretchen, for seeking to fill this void and let our voices be heard.
As you exercise your right of free speech, keep in mind this is the internet -- any nasty comment made in a moment of anger will be out there forever and is here for all the world to see. And your words here are a representation to the world of how Catholics think and live.
ReplyDeleteI am nowhere near Corning NY. I am out on the West Coast, happened upon this while web surfing and find myself coming back again and again - kinda like the car wreck you just can't keep from looking at. Church fights are always ugly but putting your church fight on the internet makes it everlasting and 100% world-wide public.
It is a good thing to keep leadership accountable and to take action to ensure transparency in financial matters of the church. But a lot of what is on this site goes far, far beyond that.
Dear Anonymous at 2:34pm,
ReplyDeleteAt one point in time I agreed with you. But like many in this site I cannot keep quiet when I see the spiritual needs of a community neglected; when the people, who are the church, are not being heard or are evaded or treated as "unruly" children to avoid answering the tough questions; when I see my faith for sale because it is the easy way out.
I ask you that you pray for our parish, regardless of which side you are in. While I will pray that your church in the West Coast never has to go through the pain our community in Corning, NY is going through.
After reading through some of these blogs, I am more depressed about this website than I was about the announcement to sell our church. All that seems to be on here are complaints about everything that has goes on in the parish. The complaints have gone from the youth minister to the parish staff, to even the homily being too long and too much music during mass! I have yet to see one concrete or alternative idea to how you would "save our parish". Being a life member of St. Vincent's I am against the selling of the church but I am also against a website that has done nothing but bring up the negatives and crush any spirit that may have been left in the parish. The time wasted on posting all these comments could be better spent on doing something positive for the church. If I were to leave the parish it would not be because of staff or administration it is because of the people who are sitting in the pews of the church that seem to have a lot of time on their hands to stir things up. Some people are complaining about programs , events that they have not even been involved in even writing a letter to the newspaper about a meeting that the person did not even attend, just heard about it through someone else.
ReplyDeletePlease do not use the Bishop's visit this week to stir up feelings about administration and facitlies plan that you do not agree with. He is coming to congratulate the children and people who have worked hard to make Catholic education alive in our parish. This is a time for the children to celebrate with him and not be subjected to adults who are unhappy at this time. Everyone it invited to celebrate mass with the bishop in a very positive atmosphere. Let's keep it that way! They are proud of their school!
The bishop is here for one reason and we all know it is not the children's mass! You say you don't want to see the church sell and this site could be used to come up with alternatives then stop trying to crush our spirit and give us some help.
ReplyDelete9:49 said among other things..."I have yet to see one concrete or alternative idea to how you would "save our parish".
ReplyDeleteIf you came to the union hall meeting yesterday you would have heard several...none of which involved selling SVdP. If you want to hear an alternative you should have attended...because our administration doesn't want to put our ideas/suggestions in the bulletin...because they WANT to sell, and it has nothing to do with our finances.
9:49- Complaining or exposing the truth? I have also read the blogs and, sadly, find most comments that are negative in regards to parish leadership are also the truth.
ReplyDeletewhen was the last time the bishop was her to celebrate the children and keeping the Catholic education alive?
ReplyDelete