- Feb 5, 2002
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Bishop Daniel Thomas says city’s ordinance violates religious freedom.
The Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, has shuttered Sacred Heart Church on the city’s east side, due to declining parishioners and rising maintenance costs, and plans to demolish the building. (photo: Benjamin Cousino Photography)
It’s a familiar story in urban parishes in the United States.
Catholic immigrants in the early 1900s scrape enough money together to build a large, grand church for their bustling urban neighborhood. Then times change and industry and jobs disappear. A dwindling number of stalwarts keep the lights on and the doors open, but mounting maintenance costs and shrinking collections ultimately force the church’s closure over parishioners’ heartfelt protests.
What makes the situation different in Toledo, Ohio, however, is that the local government has stepped in to try to save a church by telling the Church what it can and can’t do.
The Diocese of Toledo is claiming the city is infringing on its religious freedom by not letting it demolish a closed church building, located on the city’s east side.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
It’s a familiar story in urban parishes in the United States.
Catholic immigrants in the early 1900s scrape enough money together to build a large, grand church for their bustling urban neighborhood. Then times change and industry and jobs disappear. A dwindling number of stalwarts keep the lights on and the doors open, but mounting maintenance costs and shrinking collections ultimately force the church’s closure over parishioners’ heartfelt protests.
What makes the situation different in Toledo, Ohio, however, is that the local government has stepped in to try to save a church by telling the Church what it can and can’t do.
The Diocese of Toledo is claiming the city is infringing on its religious freedom by not letting it demolish a closed church building, located on the city’s east side.
Continued below.
Holy Toledo! City Tries Novel Legal Move to Stop Historic Church’s Demo
Bishop Daniel Thomas says city’s ordinance violates religious freedom.
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