A victim of diocesan greed

By Dorothy Hrubovcak

I now realize the parishioners of St. Michael’s parish were like lambs led to the slaughter by the diocese in their plan to pillage the hurch of all its valuable and precious contents for diocesan financial gain. The plan was initiated when our financial resources were squandered on an unnecessary project like demolishing a beautiful convent and a two-car garage to build an unnecessary parking lot. More money was wasted on an elaborate speaker system, a pole building, an outdoor lighted sign, multiple engineering studies and various other unnecessary projects. These projects continued until most of financial resources were depleted and made it impossible for us to do the mandated repairs dictated by the diocese.

The diocese claimed their engineering study discovered it would take $2 million to $4 million to do the repairs. Our engineer was only allowed to inspect the outside of the building by drone since she was not allowed to enter the building. She found only cosmetic repairs were necessary. Many of the mandated repairs were already completed.

A feasibility study was conducted. Only certain people were allowed to participate and they were told if their donation would not be returned if the goal was not met. Could we have done any needed repairs? I believe so, but a little over time. As a homeowner you know that needed repairs are done first. As money becomes available the remainder is done.

Next the appeal in Rome

First we needed to pay a nonrefundable fee of 1,500 euros (approximately $1,700) to the Vatican just to start the process. Then another 1,500 euros to pay for one of the Vatican-approved lawyers to present our case. The diocese did a magnificent job of telling their side of the story, but our side was never actually heard by the Vatican’s Supreme Court. We presented Rome with mountains of information, but since everything is so secretive (everything must be presented in Latin), we don’t actually know what happened.

Even before our appeal was denied, our stained-glass windows were listed for sale on the internet, a clear violation of canon law. Before the ink was dry on the denial, our beautiful stained-glass windows were removed. The rest will soon follow: the removal of the lifelike stations of the cross, statues, pews and magnificent Last Supper altar to mention a few. Only an empty shell will remain.

Why must everything be removed? Canon law? St. Mary’s and St. John’s in Coaldale were sold with the windows intact. St. John’s pews remain in the church. Does canon law change from one church to another?

When everything is removed, the diocese will then sell us back our building for $50,000. A building our ancestors built and paid for. We don’t want a gutted building. We want our beloved church returned to us in the condition it was in before the appeal and a priest to attend to our needs. A Nesquehoning church donated their entire building untouched to the Nesquehoning Historical Society for free.

If you think this cannot happen to your church, think twice. Our Panther Valley has been destroyed by the Allentown Diocese. Where once stood 11 beautiful Roman Catholic churches, only one survived the chopping block. As written by then Bishop Barres in his decree to reduce St. Katharine Drexel to profane but not sorted use, “Whereas the financial condition of St. Joseph Parish was solvent at the time of the extinctive union, but now, for all intents and purposes, has become insolvent because of the accumulated debts that it has assumed from the St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Nesquehoning. …”

One church, one priest for four towns. Don’t believe that all this was necessary because of the shortage of priests. A relative said that her church and school are staffed by priest and nuns from Poland. Could we use priests from Poland or Slovakia to staff our churches? I think not. Wealthy parishes in Allentown, Bethlehem and Reading have two or three priests. Don’t think you’re safe because your church may have an endowment. Ask the parishioners of the former St. George in Shenandoah.

Don’t think your church has any historic value either. Again, Bishop Barres made that quite clear in his decree regarding St. Katharine Drexel, “ … judging that the church does not have historic or artistic significance requiring its preservation.” So much for the “Cathedral of the Coal Regions.”

It is interesting to compare the Roman Catholic Allentown Diocese with our Byzantine Catholic brothers and sisters. They are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican but have not abandoned the faithful in Lansford and Nesquehoning.

It may be too late for the parishioners of St. Michael. It is not too late for you. Demand the bishop return your deed. You built your church. You maintain your church. You should decide when to combine, when to expand and when to close. If a closure is necessary, the donated items could be returned to families that donated them.

Take a stand now. Get together with your fellow parishioners and form a governing committee that will decide your future. Protect your church for future generations. Getting the deed back is the key to protecting it.