Vatican Drafting Guidelines on Proper Uses for Sold Churches

The New York Times ^ | 7/10/18 | AP

[marshmallow]

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican is drafting guidelines to help Catholic dioceses find appropriate ways to decommission unneeded churches so they don't end up as discos, gymnasiums or gelato shops.

The Vatican's culture ministry is teaming up with Rome's Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University and the Italian bishops' conference to host an international conference in November on managing the sale of churches and handling of their assets. The event already has a title: "Doesn't God Dwell Here Anymore?"

Culture Minister Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi told reporters on Tuesday that many dioceses in Europe, North America and Australia have more churches than they need or can maintain, thanks to an increasingly secularized society, fewer church-going Catholics and financial constraints.

The Vatican wants to ensure the buildings maintain some of the spiritual, cultural and social value they had as consecrated places of worship, Ravasi said.

"If it's used in an intelligent way," such as for pastoral work or cultural or social meetings or even as a bookstore or library, the church could sign off on it, the cardinal said. "But making it a gelateria? It'd be difficult."

[KarlInOhio]

discos, gymnasiums or gelato shops

Any of those or even a whorehouse would be better than a mosque.

[faithhopecharity]

while undesirable imho, all of the mentioned possible uses......discos, gymnasiums or gelato shops..... are far far far far far far far preferable to mosques or churches of Satan

hey, what;s wrong with gelato anyway?!!!!!!!!!!!!
is the Vatican anti-Italian, or what??????????

[FatherofFive]

teaming up with Rome's Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University

The Jesuits haven't been Catholic for three decades. Who cares what they think.

Oh, BTW, the pope is a Jesuit.

[LegendHasIt]

Don’t sell them if you don’t want them to be used for whatever the new owners want to use them for.

[Sasparilla]

Replacing every church and synagogue with a mosque is a fundamental goal of Islam

[Dilbert San Diego]

Well, apparently the church feels financial constraints, what with declining numbers attending church, and probably related declining contributions.

You are right, if they decide to sell, they can’t have any say in what happens to the property.

I’ve heard that, many places have unique zoning for places of worship, which is part of why Islam takes over some old churches. Since the property is already zoned for religious use, Muslims find it easier to take over such property, rather than seek out brand new locations.

[Roccus]

The Jesuits haven't been Catholic for three decades.

Goes back a lot farther than that my FRiend.

[trebb]

There they go again - making old buildings out to be something special and “holy” - almost reminds me of the Bible saying one shouldn’t worship idols that were likely made of wood from the same batch that made their kitchen set...

[Biggirl]

Gelato tastes real good on a hot day!

[faithhopecharity]

yup, YUM!