Losing my religion.

The diocese of Greensburg closed my home church today.

Well technically it will close October 30th, but today was the last mass at St. Vincent de Paul.

The announcement was made two weeks ago. The Bishop said it was after three years of studies and meetings and after all that they gave us two weeks to say goodbye.

The church was established in 1888 when the area of Fayette County was vital and alive. 120 years later the area is depressed and dying. Over the years the businesses could not adapt to the changing business climate and owners simply moved away. choosing the easier route of moving to greener pastures rather than making hard choices to stay where they were supported by their employees and the communities that sprouted up around them.

I understand the business decision that the diocese made. You only have so many employees (priests) to fill so many jobs (parishes) and you make cuts when and where you can. But this isn't a business...this is the Roman Catholic Church.

Spreading the word of Jesus Christ for over 2000 years.

Starting and fighting wars.

Being martyred and killing in the name of the Lord.

This building that will be closed forever is not the only one I have attended in my life. I was born to a catholic family and attended catholic school my entire life so I think I understand a little bit about how the church runs.

And I don't like the way it is running today.

Especially, in closing this parish, the Bishop has said that the priests time is more important than that of the congregation. For the past five years our parish has shared a priest with another parish about two miles away. The priest was required to spend two hours a week at our parish.

That is all.

Now, in the wisdom of the diocese not only will he not have to do that he will only have to do two masses at the other parish. That will force people to change their mass choices and cause undue stress on the resources of the remaining parish. (Cramming twice the number of people into the same space.)

And the Bishop says "it is not about what is nice, but what is necessary."

Good for him.

As the church has evolved (how do you spell "irony"?) over the centuries into the current business model that it is today I've found a certain hypocrisy that while it claims to be more modern in its business practices it can not modernize its theology.

Basically priest cannot get married.

I understand the reasoning: Jesus never said they could, he didn't, so they don't. Period.

And yet other things have changed:

Lay ministers can distribute the Eucharist.
Altar girls.
Non-Latin masses.
Removal of kneelers at the altar.

The list goes on...but priests cannot get married in the roman Catholic faith.

Has it damaged other faiths? I've seen no evidence that says a married minister cannot continue to perform his duties. Nor have I seen where un-married ministers perform their duties any better than married ones.

So rather than look at this one simple change that may lead to the relief of the priest problem they continue to leave their heads stuck in the theological sand and say "our hands are tied."

The parishioners go above and beyond to support their home churches. They give time and money. They do all they can...except what the Church will not let them do. And it because of that one thing that the churches are being closed.

So in an area where the churches are the last ties to a time of prosperity they are now being taken away just like the businesses were over the years. Do to an inability to change and a desire to what is necessary...not what is nice.

Here are some pictures from the last mass.