Papal appeal sought to reopen area church
Members of a closed Roman Catholic church in Monongahela will make a papal appeal to reopen the building for Masses on the heels of the Vatican Court’s ruling that sided with a bishop’s decision to turn off its lights.
The former members of St. Anthony Church have decided to take their appeal directly to Pope Francis in a letter that will be delivered today in a rally at the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, group spokeswoman Laura Magone said Tuesday.
“Merging parishes and closing churches lead to spiritual families being torn apart, resulting in many leaving the faith,” former St. Anthony member Joseph P. Ravasio said.
“How can anyone say that a faithful parish that had upgraded its worship space and property by over $3 million in 10 years before it was closed was not viable?” said Ravasio, a litigant in the case.
Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik closed the church at Chess Street and Park Avenue April 27, 2014, prompting the former parish members to hold protest rallies and vigils. The group appealed the closing to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Tribunal in Rome, a court that in June upheld Zubik’s decision to close the church because of a shrinking congregation and priest shortage.
Magone has said a papal appeal would be a “long shot” in efforts to reopen St. Anthony.
The rally is planned for 11:30 a.m. at 111 Boulevard of the Allies.
Diocesan spokesman the Rev. Ronald Lengwin said Zubik urged parishioners to refer to the letter he wrote a week ago to the Mon Valley parish in which he stated it was “time to come together in Monongahela.”
Zubik said the June ruling was the final decision of the Vatican that the appeals process had been exhausted.
He also said the Monongahela parish wants to “welcome back those who were hurt the most” by the St. Anthony closing.