Editorial: What in Heaven Are These People Thinking?, The Republican, December 27, 2011

Editorial: What in Heaven Are These People Thinking?

The Republican
December 27, 2011

http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/12/editorial_what_in_heaven_are_t.html

Mater Dolorosa Church parishioners are seen at the start of a continuous vigil to keep Holyoke church open in June.

Instead of turning to lawyers and courtrooms, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield and parishioners of Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke should consult the one authority that can settle their dispute over the church's status – the Gospel.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court," Jesus exhorts his followers in the Sermon on the Mount.

"Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison."

Those words have always been good advice, but we wonder if anyone is listening in this case. Both sides are expected to appear in Hampden Superior Court on Wednesday in the dispute over the church's future.

The diocese eliminated Mater Dolorosa and Holy Cross parishes June 30 due to declining enrollment and other issues and merged the two into Our Lady of the Cross parish, which worships at the former Holy Cross church. Since then, parishioners have appealed the decision to the Vatican and are maintaining a 24-hour vigil at Mater Dolorosa.

The dispute grew worse last week when parishioners at Mater Dolorosa say the diocese "kidnapped" the infant Jesus and other creche figurines. Diocesan officials say the statuettes now belong to Our Lady of the Cross Parish and would be used for the enjoyment of former Mater Dolorosa parishioners who worship there.

"Kidnapped" is an overstatement of what occurred, but regardless of the legal rights or wrongs, moving the statuettes was not wise.

Simply put, it's beneath the diocese's dignity to engage in an activity that to many minds resembles a neigborhood spat. The Catholic Church is far, far bigger than this.

Before more money and goodwill is expended in this dispute, we urge both sides to settle their differences.

The closing and merger of churches is the proper business of the bishop and his advisers. These officials are not lying when they say they lack the staff and resources to keep every church in the diocese open.

Meanwhile, the diocese should refrain from actions that reasonable people find vindictive.

Will wisdom prevail? We can't say, but as one Republican colleague quipped, it seems that the only wise men in this case are about four feet tall and made of plaster. The star they followed did not point to a courthouse.