Churches Face Uncertain Future
By: Import User
Updated: January 25, 2007
The following is a transcript of Justin Pizzi`s story.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH ON SCRANTON`S WEST SIDE WILL CLOSE IN OCTOBER.
SO WILL HOLY CROSS IN THE BELLVUE SECTION OF THE CITY.
THE TWO CHURCHES ARE GROUPED WITH TWO OTHERS THAT MAKE UP ST. PATRICK`S PARISH.
Msgr. David Tressler of St. Patrick`s Parish tells us
"We no longer needed 4 churched and we also can not financially support 4 churches."
DIOCESE OF SCRANTON SPOKESPERSON MARIA ORZEL SAYS 26 PARISHES HAVE A TOTAL OF 11-MILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT... AND THEY HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE BLACK.
ST. PATRICK`S PARISH WAS THE FIRST TO TAKE STEPS TO DO THAT.
"The parishes and institutions have to look in their own house, at their own finalncial situation and determine what realistically can be done to address this and get the colleges and institutions out of the faniancial debt it`s facing."
THAT MEANS MORE CHURCH AND SCHOOL CLOSINGS IN LUZENRE AND LACKAWANNA COUNTIES.
BUT ORZEL SAYS PARISHONERS ARE PART OF THE PROCESS.
"They`re invited to be a very strong part of the planning process to make any suggestions, to come up with any ideas that they may have to realistically resolve the parish or institutions debt."
