Diocese responding to appeal to reopen church
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is preparing a response to a Vatican appeal to reopen a Monongahela church that was closed by Bishop David A. Zubik in April.
The response will argue the diocese followed canon law in making the decision to close St. Anthony’s Church, once part of the St. Damien of Molokai parish, whose congregation is dwindling and cannot afford to keep two churches open, said diocesan spokesman the Rev. Ronald Lengwin.
“We have been asked by the Vatican to respond. The response will be sent soon,” Lengwin said referring to the appeal filed a month ago in an effort to reopen St. Anthony’s at Park Avenue and Chess Street.
Parishioners since April have been attending Mass at Transfiguration Church on West Main Street.
The closing of St. Anthony’s was met with protests and an overnight vigil following the last Mass there, an event that led to some harsh words being said about Zubik.
Zubik responded by saying the criticism was an embarrassment to the church.
Retired schoolteacher Joe Ravasio, who is a leader of the group wanting to reopen St. Anthony’s, said in April the Vatican appeal was being prepared.
Ravasio said in April the church should not have been closed, and that its congregation had never been given a goal on how much money it needed to raise to be self-sufficient.
He could not be reached Wednesday for comment.