Response from city council president Kathy Lantry.
Finally, a straight answer.
Not the answer we want but at least we know the truth.
Hi, Theresa
The archdiocese has sold the property and it is to become an Islamic Center.
The use is conforming with the code-it was used as a religious building and it
will be used as a religious building. I understand there may be some anxiety
due to lack of knowledge about the faith or the concern about stuff we hear on
the news. I hope people will give them a chance and that we have the
opportunity to welcome them.
Thanks,
Kathy
More spin in the St. Pascal's bulletin this week
THE CHURCH OF SAINT PASCAL BAYLON
JUNE 08, 2014 I PENTECOST SUNDAY
It obvious now that we haven't been getting the whole story from St. Pascal's, not that they owe us anything. For what it's worth, it's not just us who have been kept in the dark. I talked to people on the local neighborhood community council and they aren't happy either because they have never been contacted about anything connected with St. John's either before or since its closing. It is customary to keep the community council and the neighborhood in general informed of major projects but apparently the Archdiocese is following their standard policy of doing everything in secret.
I'll try to keep watch on what's going on but things are moving quickly and I'm not around all the time.
Also this summer we are continuing to find new homes for some of the sacred furnishings at the St. John's parish campus. Most recently, with the approval of the archdiocese, we have transferred the high altar and one of the side altars there to St. Pius V Catholic Church in Cannon Falls, MN. That church will also be receiving most of the pews from St. John's. The communion railing will soon be moved to All Saints Catholic Church in N.E. Minneapolis. .ther Catholic churches in our archdiocese have asked to be recipients of the remaining furnishings, so we can take some comfort in knowing that they will all find good new communities in which to be of service. It also saves us the very considerable expense of moving these lovely but heavy and bulky objects. As of the time of this writing, the St. John's property is not yet sold, but there is ongoing expression of interest among prospective buyers, and we have been in discussions with the archdiocese about how the proceeds of any eventual sale will be handled. Things are moving ahead slowly, but they do seem to be moving.
Theresa
COMMENTS
June 5, 2014
I suspect that it is being intentionally hush-hush about the Islamic center. I think there might be a lot more people than we think who might not be happy about this sort of thing, either taking place in a Catholic Church - or- in their neighborhood. Either way - not good... I'm just sick about all the veiled and untold truths.....what parish church is the next to succumb to the brutalities of our time?
"Prayer is to our soul what rain is to the soil.
Fertilize the soil ever so richly; it will remain barren unless fed by frequent rains."
-St. John Vianney
June 04, 2014
I am very upset and greatly disturbed that the Archdiocese would allow this to happen. Father Welzbacher has given talks about the the dangers of Islam to all other faiths, especially the Catholic Faith. He knows well why this infiltration of Muslims in larger and larger numbers is dangerous for any Christian nation (are Catholics not aware of the influx of large number of Muslims in Europe and who will eventually be in control ?). The U.S.leadership and its citizens continue to abandon God (the Holy Trinity) and attack the one true Apostolic Faith, causing the loss of souls; which is why the Archdiocese's action, as our Catholic leadership, is most upsetting!