Post Katrina Restructuring or Just Greed?

Lord help us all.

In a city that already had FOUR murders committed by January 4, 2009, God is needed. In a city that is encouraged by having only 179 murders in 2008 compared to the 210 in 2007, the Police Force is needed on the streets, putting an end to crime. What is God doing? He's are being kicked to the curb (well, ok, not him, but surely his shepards). By who? The City's police. New Orleans police evicted parishioners from two Uptown Catholic churches Tuesday, allowing the Archdiocese of New Orleans to reclaim the churches which parishioners had occupied around the clock for almost 10 weeks. (see source)

As Comiskey arrived at Good Counsel, one person from the crowd asked loudly about an earlier statement from archdiocesean officials that those participating in the vigil would not be disturbed as long as they remained peaceful. She didn't immediately respond.

I am heartbroken to read such a story. Police physically removing parishioners from their spiritual home. One of the two churches being closed was one of the few churches in the city to suffer little to NO damage during/after Katrina. Our Lady of Good Council was one of the first to reopen following Katrina's devestating blow to the city and celebrate Mass (please note, only TWO months after the storm hit, to service the Guardsmen and first responders in the city). Since the church's reopening post-Katrina, it's congregation numbers were rising and it was in financial stability.

I think back to a trip to New Orleans where I attended Mass at St. Stephens (the church that "survived" and is now being merged with OLGC) and remember homilist speaking to us about the "re-evaluation" of New Orleans diocese. My stomach hurt then and it hurts now thinking that these good people that have suffered so much already are now having to say good bye to one of the staples they've ever known.

In an email I received from a concerned former parishioner of OLGC: "This church is over 125 years old, and my father was baptized there in 1926, as were my brother and I and our children as well. Hugh and I were married in this church as well. Just a year ago, my niece's daughter - our family's fourth generation - was baptized there. It is one of the most beautiful churches you will ever see."

Four generations link--gone. Just like that.

I understand that a lot has to be reevaluated in the Big Sleezy. I also understand that a culture that is so passionate about hanging on to the way things were are slowly having to accept the way things are "now."

What I don't understand is how closing OLGC and St. Henry's is going to help the Diocese or the City. Except that maybe they're both located in what is now known as "the sliver by the river." Prime real estate, dry land. Which could bring big bucks to the Church.

Which is how I'm going to close this posting..."The archdiocese believes that either [children occupying the buildings and parishioners excercising within the building] is inappropriate. Even though neither church contains the Blessed Sacrament, consecrated bread that Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ, the churches are still sacred, consecrated spaces, she [Comiskey] said."

Please Ms. Comiskey. Do tell. What are your plans with these sacred, consecrated spaces?