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	Diocese Looks to Sell Church; Protestant Buyer Possible By Nichole Dobo The Times-Tribune September 14, 2007 http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18817024&BRD= 2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6 A possible sale of a 30-year-old Roman Catholic church in Scranton is being negotiated. The Diocese of Scranton is in talks regarding the sale of the now-vacant St. Vincent de Paul Church, the newest Catholic church built in the city. "Discussions are under way with a potential buyer for the church, but I can't comment beyond that," diocese spokesman Bill Genello wrote in an e-mailed response to questions. The church has been empty since June, following a merger with the St. Anthony of Padua and St. Joseph parishes. The St. Vincent de Paul building, on Providence Road, might be sold to another denomination. Leaders of a church in the Lackawanna Presbytery met to discuss a possible purchase Tuesday. The Rev. Dr. Mary Jane Hitt, of the Providence United Presbyterian Church, said she could not comment on whether the church is going to buy St. Vincent de Paul. "When the time comes, we would be happy to talk about it," she said. Providence United Presbyterian Church has been without a building since 2004, when its 87-year-old building in Green Ridge was deemed structurally unsafe. They have been holding services at Asbury United Methodist Church in the interim. The Scranton diocese has been struggling with money, stemming from sexual abuse lawsuits, declining parish membership and upkeep of antiquated buildings. The diocese had a deficit of more than $1.3 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 In January, the diocese announced sweeping changes to the school system, closing 15 schools in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. It's not clear why St. Vincent de Paul might be sold. The church, which can seat 500, had 229 parish households in 2004, a loss of 16 percent from 2000, according to diocesan records. Parish offerings from 2000 through 2004 remained stable at about $86,000 a year. The St. Vincent de Paul Church was dedicated in April 1977. The $800,000 building project replaced another church on the same site. The parish debt was retired in 1985. The church has a contemporary diamond-shaped design that sets it apart from other, more traditional churches in the city. The church is home to a 530-square-foot terra-cotta mural hung behind the altar that is thought to be one-of-a-kind. The artwork was made in Spain and shipped to Scranton piece-by-piece in the mid-1970s, for a cost of about $23,000. It depicts God the Father, Jesus Christ crucified, the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. Contact the writer: ndobo@timesshamrock.com
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