I wanted to thank Maureen Turner for her well researched and well-written article concerning the scheduled closing of Immaculate Conception Church in Indian Orchard ("Praying for Salvation," Oct. 22, 2009). For those of us in the Springfield Catholic Diocese who consider it a tragedy that these beautiful old church buildings are slated for closure (and eventual demolition), prominent and fair-minded press coverage, such as Turner's cover story, is very much appreciated in our efforts to raise awareness.
The architectural decisions we make as a society reveal a lot more about us than one might think. It is an irony, for example, that many people with left-leaning political views (i.e. liberals and progressives who often berate the Catholic Church for "living in the past") are very often among the most ardent supporters of preserving traditional, old buildings. It is equally ironic that many Catholic bishops, who defend and teach traditional morals and doctrine, often reject traditional church buildings in favor of the more modern, progressive structures. I'll refrain from any dime-store psychoanalysis here, but, whatever the cause of these curious contradictions, it seems to me to be evidence that we are living in confused times, indeed.
Consider the fact that eight years after the 9/11 attacks reduced New York City's Twin Towers to rubble, the befuddled modern American mind can't even decide what to build in their place. A hundred years ago, magnificent structures (such as Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Hope) were built on such a prolific scale, and with such majesty and beauty, that it can only be attributed to an overflowing cultural confidence. I, for one, not only mourn the destruction of individual historic buildings, but also the end of an era when people actually knew what they believed.
Steve Moser
Springfield
