Letters to the Editor

CHURCH …

I read your article concerning the closings and future of several
historic Catholic churches due to the diocese’s consolidation plan
(“Sacrificial Lambs,” April 8). Your article is not as critical of the
diocese’s consolidation plan as others I’ve read, but still it jumped
on the Catholic Church-bashing bandwagon. While I agree that it would
be a shame to lose such historic and architectural landmarks, I
disagree with several of the other statements you made in the
article.

With the diocese’s consolidation plan, once again the Catholic
Church can do no right. As a practicing Catholic, I’m a little tired of
that claim.

Brian Tomcik

Sagamore Hills

Your piece about the closing of churches was one of the best that
I’ve read on that subject — and I think I’ve read all of those
published. You pointed out the problems, the causes and the unanswered
questions.

This is a situation that carries heart-wrenching moments, a large
degree of nostalgia, challenging economics and a review of Cleveland’s
political failure of the last 40 years. With hindsight, we can see our
many mistakes. We all carry some responsibility, and I am hopeful that
we will continue the discussion.

We must talk about the exodus. Why did people leave our city? Why
did the diocese allow new churches to be built when inner-city parishes
began to see more and more empty pews? Was it quite simply a chase for
the money? Twenty and 30 years ago when suburban churches were being
built — some of the worst architecture ever produced —
control was still very much in the hand of the bishop and the diocesan
office. Why did they not say no? As recently as four years ago, the
diocese allowed the building of La Sagrada Familia Church, a large Taco
Bell-style edifice, to be built on Detroit and the West 70s. What kind
of political horse-trading was that all about?

You mention the issue of the church’s failure to move into the
modern world. This, of course, is a statement that many of us wonder
about. When should we adapt for the sake of holding the flock together?
When should we stand strong to protect that which we believe should not
be changed? Protestant churches as well as Roman Catholic churches have
lost members. The only place we see growth is in the evangelical
community. Of course that’s scary. I am a church person. I was not
raised in any rigid or structured ideology, but when I was in college
during the late ’50s, I became interested in doctrine and eventually
became an Episcopalian. Most students in my generation attended
church.

After Vatican II and the societal changes of the ’60s and ’70s, I
drifted away from the Episcopalian church as that institution moved to
the left. Today they are more interested in social issues than in
theology. Fortunately, I found a home nearly 10 years ago. I now attend
St. James Church, one of the few Anglican Catholic churches in the
region. You might like to visit sometime and see history in action.
Nothing has changed there. The altar was not turned around. We do not
shake hands and greet brothers and sisters. Of course, it is a haven
for conservatives. Actually, you would probably find a great story
there.

One issue that seems to be muted in this discussion is the fact that
our city’s government, like those of most American cities, has been in
a downward spiral for nearly 40 years. Today our city is a haven for
patronage and the inept. Of course, we don’t want to administer the
civil-service exam. Few would probably pass it. Jane Campbell’s hiring
of Jeffrey Johnson, paroled from prison, is a perfect example. Although
many folks left the church, as you mention, for doctrinal reasons, more
people left the city because of the quality of government. That exodus
continues.

On a brighter note, there are inner-city parishes that are doing
well. Immaculate Conception, on Superior Avenue, seems to be packing
them in for their traditional Latin Mass. St. Peter’s on Superior,
unfortunately slated for closing, is a very vibrant parish of
suburbanites. St. Emeric, a thriving Hungarian parish on the closing
list, is alive and well. These parishes would make great follow-up
stories.

Parker Bosley

Cleveland

AND STATES

The states’ rights clique revolves around a core of mindlessness and
name-calling (“Right Rage,” April 15). Where were they when the Patriot
Act came out? No Child Left Behind? NAFTA? The WTO? CAFTA?

Where were they when Reagan raised FICA payroll taxes? They could
have made this much noise when Bush rolled out the bailouts for AIG
last summer.

NAFTA, CAFTA and the WTO violate the constitutional power of our
elected representatives in congress to change tariff rates, import
duties and other trade policies as the wills of citizenry changes.

They sure were eager to invade Iraq. Why didn’t they secede from the
Union earlier just to invade Iraq on their own?

Ryan Costa

Cleveland

The Supreme Court does have the “final say” on what the Constitution
means, but the people, through their state legislatures, have the final
say in how it might be amended to ensure compliance with the state
sovereignty provisions of the Tenth Amendment.

The movement to restrain federal government power is hardly new. It
was the primary topic of debate at the founding and produced the Bill
of Rights. Asserting those rights in state legislative resolutions is a
legitimate step in preparation for an amendment, if that’s what’s
required.

Bill Westmiller

National Treasurer,

Republican Liberty Caucus

This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2009.