- FoSBC
FoSBC Response to Selling Off Churches
Updated: Aug 3, 2019
Published in The Laconia Daily Sun on June 29th, 2019
June 28, 2019
The Laconia Daily Sun
1127 Union Avenue
Laconia, NH 03246
To the Editor:
The interview with the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Manchester, Rev. Georges de Laire, in the Adam Drapcho story about efforts to save the historic Saint Joseph's Church, revealed a shocking lack of empathy for parishioners struggling to preserve their spiritual home, (Lawyer who saved 15 churches says Libasci should reconsider, 6/21/2019).
Instead of trying to conciliate suffering Catholics, de Laire's response was arbitrary, high handed and legalistic, repeatedly emphasizing the authority of the bishop. At a time when so many Catholics are leaving the Church, it was astonishing to read that the diocese had not even replied to the group representing the aggrieved parishioners.
It is bad enough that the Catholic Church is selling off so much of the patrimony of generations of Catholics, but when it is compounded by a disregard for due process, good faith and fair play, it is no wonder that forty percent of American Catholics are now ex-Catholics.
Sincerely, C. J. Doyle
Director of Communications
Friends of Saint Benedict Center
P. O. Box 6551
Manchester, NH 03108