Valley Catholics dealing with the aftermath of the Springfield Diocese’s decision last year to close a number of local churches might find inspiration—or at least some kindred spirits—in an excellent piece by reporter Charlie Deitz that aired on WAMC’s “Roundtable’ show this morning (available online here).
Deitz, WAMC’s Berkshire bureau chief, looked at the various ways Catholics in that county have responded to church closures and consolidations—including dedicated parishioners at Adam’s St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, who for more than a year have maintained a round-the-clock vigil at their church, which was among those picked to be closed.
In the Valley, frustrated parishioners have held their own vigils (though none with the intensity of St. Stan’s members) and filed appeals with the Diocese and the Vatican. In Springfield, parishioners at Hungry Hill’s Our Lady of Hope and Indian Orchard’s Immaculate Conception have also sought to at least preserve their church buildings, by seeking historical district designations for their churches. While Our Lady of Hope’s request has already won the approval of the Springfield Historical Commission and City Council (Immaculate Conception’s has yet to make it to the Council), the Diocese last week sued the city, arguing that the vote amounts to government interference with the Diocese’s constitutional right to religious expression.
