BishopAccountability.org
	Michael E. Klos: Is Catholic Church about Buildings or about People? By Michael Klos Winona Daily News May 20, 2010 http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/opinion/article_5c15fd72-63fc-11df-989b-001cc4c002e0.html As a Catholic, I too, like Don Doerr, am deeply disappointed by the corruption to be found within the Catholic church. However, it would seem that our ideas of "corruption" are, in some ways, wildly different. I would agree that the abuse of other human beings is a profound tragedy and a grave sin. Whether that abuse is psychological, physical, emotional or sexual, anything that causes a heart or a soul to be demeaned or broken is to be strongly condemned. However, in contrast to Doerr's feelings, I find nothing in the Gospels that would suggest that our Lord is the least bit concerned with preserving buildings. Everything in the Gospels points to concern for the soul and spirit of the human person, which God created to know goodness, truth and beauty. Buildings can be important. A beautiful, well-appointed church does much to assist in lifting one's spirit as well as informing the intellect so that we may more fully know him whom we worship. However, the most beautiful, well-appointed, historically significant church in the world is but an empty shell without a community of faith, hope and love gathered around the altar upon which the most precious body and blood, soul and divinity of our lord, Jesus Christ comes into our midst. The fact of the matter is Holy Family Parish has buildings we don't need. These buildings cost our parish $10,000 per year just for insurance. Do I use this money to sustain an unneeded, empty shell or to evangelize and save souls? As pastor, in consultation with my parish finance council, I made the decision to give people the chance to obtain these items for which we no longer have any use. I believe that this was, and is, the right thing to do. These materials will now be put back into use by people who can cherish and use them. As a parish, we will continue to explore avenues by which we can divest ourselves of these unneeded materials and buildings. We are anxious to find someone who will maintain Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and put it to some good and appropriate use. It is a significant monument to the faith of Arcadia's founders, and I would like to see that honored. Doerr's criticism of our parish's actions are as unfounded and ill-informed as his criticism of the church's teaching on the priesthood and immigration, his judgment on the immigration status of the Hispanics and others living in Arcadia, and his ignorance of the fact that La Crosse does not, at this moment, even have a bishop. The Catholic church, and this parish, exists to help all people come to know and love God and their neighbor so that we might all be together forever in heaven. Buildings are important in this pursuit, but our spiritual heritage is the faith of those who have come before us. A faith which continues to be lived today in hope and love.
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