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Some Questions for the IPPG
By Eugene Michael
Rochester Catholic
July 20, 2009
http://rochestercatholic.com/2009/07/20/some-questions-for-the-ippg/
Following are some questions that concerned parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle should be asking of Father Tanck and the Irondequoit Pastoral Planning Group (IPPG):
- Will the $40,000 that was raised for the recent purchase of the cathedral's organ be returned to the donors?
- Will the $8,000 that was recently raised for soundproofing in the church be returned to the donors?
- The Msgr. Burns educational fund reportedly has a clause that states, as a last resort, the money may be used to save the parish from closing. It is reported that this fund has a balance of about $300,000. Why can't this money be used, as it was intended, to prevent the closing of St. Thomas? If the money was spread out over the next 3 years, that would equal almost $10,000 in monthly income. Surely, that would be more than enough to sustain the parish until Bishop Clark's retirement. Let the next bishop then decide the fate of St. Thomas. After all, the IPPG has already demonstrated a lack of competence in restructuring parishes. Their credibility is very shaky, and they should not have a say in the future of this parish.
- If the money from the Msgr. Burns Fund is not used to save the parish, does this violate the legal conditions of the fund? In other words, if the money is merely transferred to Christ the King or the diocese, would this be a violation of the law?
- Will the minutes from all IPPG meetings be released so that parishioners can closely examine the specific reasons for the IPPG's recommendation of closure? After all, parishioners have been told repeatedly that this was an honest and open process.
- Who on the IPPG specifically recommended closing St. Thomas? Who on the committee voted for closure? If Father Tanck made the recommendation and/or voted for it, is this a violation of his canonical responsibilities to "safeguard" his parish? If the IPPG claims it was their consensus to close St. Thomas, then it should be assumed that the vote was unanimous. This would mean that Father Tanck did indeed vote to close his own parish. Again, is this a canonical violation?
Two years ago, the people at St. Thomas were told that clustering with Christ the King was the best way to ensure the future viability of their parish. Many people objected, and they warned instead that the plan would result in the closure of St. Thomas. These people were pejoratively labeled with the term "the vocal minority". Two years later, it turns out that the vocal minority was right. The IPPG's plan resulted in a drop in Mass attendance of almost 40% in just two short years.
The people of St. Thomas should demand a formal written apology from the IPPG for their disastrous clustering plan. They should also pursue legal action to try and save their parish. In the context of this legal pursuit, the Msgr. Burns Fund should be fully examined for its potential to save the parish.
Msgr. Burns would surely approve.
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