Speaking on a Radio 4 documentary which is due to be broadcast tonight Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said: “If I were a bishop of a diocese that had a very small number of priests … I would ask permission I think of Rome to demolish most churches. But I think it’s got to be done very carefully because I think churches are a great gift to the church. But circumstances may I think … may impel bishops and bishops conferences to demolish lots of churches.”
The interview took place before the resignation of faith-demolition expert, Kieran Conry. The cardinal, who retired in 2009, said that churches had been “a great advantage to the Catholic Church over the last at least 10 centuries”. He said:”Secondly, I’d say it’s not a dogma. Therefore the current discipline on wanton and unnecessary Church demolition can be changed.”
Please note: this is my poor attempt at satire. Read the real article here.
9 comments:
We are not museum curators!
Yes, I understand the humour ! What a sad figure Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor is. What a confusion !
Lindi.
I am not sure there is a shortage of priests.
As I have said before, the number of Mass attenders is going down at about the same rate as that of priests. I think there is simply a shortage of Catholics.
But we have far too many churches and there are advantages in knocking them down. The real estate income from the sale of sites will go a long way to counter the falling Sunday collection, and what an opportunity to get rid of those awful, excruciating 60s monstrosities that appeared everywhere just before the collapse.
By the way, if the +Rtd thinks marriage will bring in more priests, he should think again. I was at a funeral last week in a Protestant church, an ecclesial body that has always allowed married ministers. The minister was a woman, who had, I am told, three “parishes” in all to look after!
Dear Bones, can you write and publish this? I think this is one of the most courageous voices in present situation:
http://twoheartspress.com/blog/open-letter-to-pope-francis-are-you-planning-to-redefine-church-doctrine/
I'm wondering if anyone read your link...
The retired Cardinal may well wish to demolish the celibate priesthood. Much like the line of Conroy, it only makes me question his fidelity to his vows..So why should we trust him now?
Unfortunately, spellcheck keeps 'correcting' my spelling of Kieran's name. Maybe it wants me to be less formal now...
Do retired Cardinals normally talk this much?
Can't he take up golf?
I understand the retired Cardinal's concern when he suggests most churches ought be demolished with Rome serving as the Guarantor, and further, and as the retired Cardinal wisely cautions:
"...it’s got to be done very carefully."
Having watched many an episode of "World's Most Spectacular Demolitions Gone Wrong", I can assure you that one needs to be fully insured against explosive blow-back into the onlooking crowds.
I imagine that is what the former cardinal intended by his remarks.
You can relax. Kierans resignation has been accepted.
Whether the Diocese of A&B will still exist in a years time though remains to be seen as the Archbishop of Southwark is now in charge (again, after a 50 year absenve) as Apostolic administrator.
Will the next Bishop be a suffragan in a reunited Southwark diocese?
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