The faithful face hard choices as closing nears

with as much money the catholic church has ,,,there's no reaason for this.

South Side Bethlehem has 3 churches in the same block. You don't see Mcdonalds or Walmart that close together. These should have been gradually combined years ago. If more of an effort was made to grow and MAINTAIN membership, this would not be an issue. Parishoners won't go to these new churches.

Unfortunately, most still don't get it. It is not about money, it is about lack of vocations.

Priests have traveled between parishes to serve the members. It's not just the decrease in the calling to the priesthood that's the cause of church consolidation.

When I was a young person, I remember people from the Lykens Parish driving to the Catholic church in Tower City because the priest said the mass in 20 MINUTES.

Not being a Catholic, I never fully understood the parish system. I don't understand why people can't just go to whatever church they prefer. This would make it simpler to monitor usage and preferences. People who prefer to hear a priest from a church a distance away could certainly go there, and skip attending the service at the church with the boring priest presiding. People who prefer a certain ethnicity in their worship could worshiop with others of similar tastes. There might eventually be some divergence in the manner of practice in the various churches, reflecting the needs of the congregants. And churches which drew the least members would eventually close, and few would notice. There would be a lot less uproar this way, which is more in keeping with the way other religious groups function.

vocations are one part of it but don't be fooled it is all about the money and the bishop doing whatever he wants with it. why is his new mansion and his country club membership not getting more air play. to do what he is doing to these parishioners and at the same time spend tons of money on himself and renovating the cathedral is reprehensible. what a mess he has put the allentown diocese in.

emjoy wrote:

Not being a Catholic, I never fully understood the parish system. I don't understand why people can't just go to whatever church they prefer. This would make it simpler to monitor usage and preferences. People who prefer to hear a priest from a church a distance away could certainly go there, and skip attending the service at the church with the boring priest presiding. People who prefer a certain ethnicity in their worship could worshiop with others of similar tastes. There might eventually be some divergence in the manner of practice in the various churches, reflecting the needs of the congregants. And churches which drew the least members would eventually close, and few would notice. There would be a lot less uproar this way, which is more in keeping with the way other religious groups function.

The Catholic Church is universal, and the celebration of the Mass is identical, or should be, regardless of where you attend. Apart from language, all the prayers used follow an identical formula, and there really is no mechanism where a local parish can do-its-own-thing.

Apart from the prayers, music can and does vary significantly from parish to parish. Styles can differ, but the message of the lyrics cannot, or should not, contain any errors as related to Catholic teaching.

Other denominations might have a way of adapting local buildings/regions to particular changes in prayers, etc, like what you mention in your note, but that isn't possible within the Catholic Mass

Tower City church is Allentown diocese, located at end of SchuylkillCounty Line--either travel
10 to 12 miles one way, two mountains, price of gas or Change to Harrisburg Diocese--Dauphin County
3 to 5 miles--Williamstown Church.

Lifetime member of T.C. Church

Child of God wrote:

South Side Bethlehem has 3 churches in the same block. You don't see Mcdonalds or Walmart that close together. These should have been gradually combined years ago. If more of an effort was made to grow and MAINTAIN membership, this would not be an issue. Parishoners won't go to these new churches.

I don't suppose you've ever visited the Walmart on MacArthur Road where there is a McDonald's WITHIN the store? There's also one in the same mall lot if I'm not mistaken.

I would suggest that these shepherdless sheep to flock together in a vehicle and drive to their next church of choice. A diocese shouldn't matter.

Lack of Vocations...yes! That's why woman should be aloud to be priests...and priest should be allowed to marry...it would prevent so other problems from happening. I als think that married priest perpective on life would be closer to reality that a non married one. And yes I was born and raised catholic...don't go to chuch too much..I find spirituality from other groups...plus I am divorced so right there there are strikes against me...and St. anne's church (the one in my district) is about as cold as the North pole...telling me what to give in the bulletin...not even close to what I can afford.

Steve wrote:

with as much money the catholic church has ,,,there's no reaason for this.

Do you know where that money's hidden? Every parish has to keep audited books, and too many of them run on a deficit. So if you know where a hidden stash of cash is, let the diocese know by all means!

No Choice wrote:

Tower City church is Allentown diocese, located at end of SchuylkillCounty Line--either travel
10 to 12 miles one way, two mountains, price of gas or Change to Harrisburg Diocese--Dauphin County
3 to 5 miles--Williamstown Church.
Lifetime member of T.C. Church

When I was young there was a Presbyterian Church USA church in Allentown. They moved out to the suburbs (a 4 mile drive away) and sold the old building to the Allentown Art Museum.(That's why the old part of the museum looks like a temple.)
Why don't we hear about how the PCUSA--or the other "oldline denominations" that had to shut down churches in town--have abandoned the people of Allentown?

Kate wrote:

Lack of Vocations...yes! That's why woman should be aloud to be priests...and priest should be allowed to marry...it would prevent so other problems from happening. I als think that married priest perpective on life would be closer to reality that a non married one. And yes I was born and raised catholic...don't go to chuch too much..I find spirituality from other groups...plus I am divorced so right there there are strikes against me...and St. anne's church (the one in my district) is about as cold as the North pole...telling me what to give in the bulletin...not even close to what I can afford.

For starters, there's the fact that the average minister costs double what the average Catholic priest does, and needs to spend time as well as money on his wife and kids.(Some Protestant ministers are part-timers with a two-year degree; if you want to compare apples to apples, the average Episcopalian priest casts three times as much as the average Catholic priest.)
So if the Catholic Church started ordaining married men as priests (we have married deacons) more parishes would be operating in the red, and you would need more priests to cover the same amount of parishioners.

As for using women in a similar fashion to Protestant female clergy, what do you think that nuns do?

Don Schenk wrote:

<quoted text>
For starters, there's the fact that the average minister costs double what the average Catholic priest does, and needs to spend time as well as money on his wife and kids.(Some Protestant ministers are part-timers with a two-year degree; if you want to compare apples to apples, the average Episcopalian priest casts three times as much as the average Catholic priest.)
So if the Catholic Church started ordaining married men as priests (we have married deacons) more parishes would be operating in the red, and you would need more priests to cover the same amount of parishioners.
As for using women in a similar fashion to Protestant female clergy, what do you think that nuns do?

I understand what you are saying About expensese, but there are ways of afforning this. One...no need for retirement communities for Priests...no need for chefs to make their food...kids to do the chores....they would have to buy a practical car not a luxury one...etc. There is a lot of hidden money in the church..it would also prevent pedifile lawsuits...that should save a ton...enough to save a third world country!

As far as your nun comment...they do not have nearly the role they should have in the church...and I would not go pour out my soul to someone who has never had to send for themselves...they do not have every day problems. I went to catholic schools...nuns don't live in reality either.

I think these people are right. I attend this church too. I have been in it ever since I was born and I will continue to fight for our church to stay open. I am only eleven but I will not let this church close without a fight. As my mother Julianne said We'll do whatever it takes to keep it open and take it to Rome.

Because of the decline in church attendence all churches not just Catholic are having hard times. Trust me aas a young man i don't want to go to church and hear the roof must be repaired, the windows leak and x amount of dollars are needed to repair them. wanna know why? I have the same situation at home plus 2 children and a wife to suppot. Youth today are not interested in maintaing shrines as christ usually comes to us in the middle of nowhere and not waiting for us in a palace. As catholics we must approach this as the will of God no matter how much we dont like it

Theri is no monet problems at the T.C. church--that is a fact--we are debt free--why should we be put-out because of a bishop not using or making correct choices--the Diocese DOES MATTER--how DARE they just put you out after being a lifetime member
They took the money all my life now my church--NOT.

jake wrote:

Because of the decline in church attendence all churches not just Catholic are having hard times. Trust me aas a young man i don't want to go to church and hear the roof must be repaired, the windows leak and x amount of dollars are needed to repair them. wanna know why? I have the same situation at home plus 2 children and a wife to suppot. Youth today are not interested in maintaing shrines as christ usually comes to us in the middle of nowhere and not waiting for us in a palace. As catholics we must approach this as the will of God no matter how much we dont like it

A different Diocese Does Matter why should we have to change

Allentonian wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't suppose you've ever visited the Walmart on MacArthur Road where there is a McDonald's WITHIN the store? There's also one in the same mall lot if I'm not mistaken.
I would suggest that these shepherdless sheep to flock together in a vehicle and drive to their next church of choice. A diocese shouldn't matter.

The RCC is drying up! I'm not crying over it. The Catholic Church has been involved in so many cover-ups and scandles over the years. People are fleeing from it just as they would with a violent storm -- the smart ones!!!