Acting on whose behalf?

Recent news regarding the diocese plans for the former school building for Holy Rosary Church needs to be monitored with a watchful eye by lay persons of any parish.

As you may all be aware, both the Holy Rosary Church and school were closed in the project that brought about the permanent closure of 16 other parishes in 2005. The closure of St. James was also a product of this restructuring project. Throughout the administration of this effort, from conception to closure, parishioners from these churches were told many different things about what would be done with the assets that they helped to maintain through generations of Catholic history in northwest Ohio.

As you read the article below, please note that this is nothing less than a re-distribution of the wealth of Holy Rosary parish, Holy Rosary Parishioners, and Toledo tax payers; all in one confounded effort to enrich the diocese. The will of the parishioners in the decision of the fate of any parish or its assets is not considered, even if the diocese claims to ask for the input of those of us who built up what they liquidate.

The role of the Catholic Church in Education

If you should read some statements from the diocese in the near future regarding the future of the Junction St Mary building and/or windows, or the liquid funds of St. James Parish, or the Salem St. Joseph building and/or cemetary funds, remember this article. Should the diocese make referene to any negotiations with parishioners or attempts to solicit their feedback in order to make a decision, keep in mind that Holy Rosary was promised something alltogether different regarding their parish assets and specifically their school.

In case that is not evidence enough, the diocesan statement regarding the suit brought forth by St. James contained these two sentences in the very same document:

"The former parishioners claimed that they were entitled to all parish property, and a request of an accounting of funds, which still remain in a diocesan deposit account in the approxomate amount of $77,957.60. All funds currently in the account of the closed parish were transferred to the diocese to be held until a decision is made between the diocese and former members of the parish as to the disposition of the funds."

"The former parishioners of St. James will receive their personal belongings, and possibly additional requested sacred good if those items are not needed in other parishes, and the funds of the former parish will be properly distributed in the interests of the local parishes" (my emphasis is added)

As the diocese is still attempting to facilitate the aftermath of the 2005 re-organization project, now is not the time for complacency. Somebody better be watching the store.