Archdiocese of Allentown
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Diocese of Greensburg
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Diocese of Scranton
Archdiocese of Allentown
Diocese drops appeal on church closings 5/5/2011
The Catholic Diocese of Allentown has dropped its appeal of a Vatican decree that said six churches shuttered during parish consolidations three years ago should never have been closed.
Catholic parishoners protest at closed church 3/19/2011
Parishioners tried to say the rosary inside St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon but they couldn't get in. So their prayer took the tone of a protest.
Appeals to reopen closed US parishes see partial victories 3/14/2011
Catholic parishioners in nearly a dozen Pennsylvania and Massachusetts churches that were closed by their local bishop have won partial victories early this year in appeals to the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, said Peter Borre, a Boston Catholic actively engaged in fighting such closings in several dioceses.
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/appeals-reopen-closed-us-parishes-see-partial-victories
Diocese appeals church rulings 3/10/2011
The Catholic Diocese of Allentown has appealed a Vatican ruling that said it was improper to close a number of churches, including St. Joseph's in south Bethlehem, during parish consolidation three years ago.
A split decision on church closings 1/29/2011
In St. Joseph's versus the Catholic Diocese of Allentown, the judges have offered a split decision, and no one's quite sure what it means for the future of the venerable south Bethlehem church.
Parishioners hopeful Church may be reopened 1/12/2011
Parishioners of the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the New Columbus section of Nesquehoning are holding out hope that their church will reopen after two years of appeals to the Catholic Church in Rome.
http://standardspeaker.com/news/parishioners-hopeful-churches-may-be-reopened-1.1089118
Mahoney City church not closed? Parishioners ponder further appeal 1/11/2011
Members of the former St. Canicus Roman Catholic Parish have received an answer from the Vatican about their appeal regarding the closing of the church in a 2008 consolidation, but it has prompted more questions.
The last Mass. In solemn ceremonies across the region, Catholic churches closed. 7/13/08
Meanwhile, parishioners at 22 of the affected churches will continue to appeal the closings. Bishop Edward Cullen has rejected two appeals so far, but the faithful have pledged to fight all the way to Rome. A group of disaffected congregants called the Coalition of Churches met in Bethlehem on Sunday to talk strategy and gather advice from Peter Borre, a Boston-based expert in challenging closures. Borre couldn't make the meeting but spoke to the group of about 175 people on speaker phone, according to Stephen Antalics, a parishioner at St. Joseph's in South Side Bethlehem, one of the churches being closed.
Overview of Allentown Church Closings Following the Diocese of Allentown's announcement of church consolidations and mergers, The REPUBLICAN & Herald will be profiling a local church that is closing each day through July 15, 2008. Profiles will include the history and background of the parish, the date it was founded, number of parishioners and name of pastor, as well as a photo of the church. Parishioners are welcome to share their memories of their churches in the comment sections of each profile.
Timeline Established for Planning Parish Consolidation and Restructuring
http://www.allentowndiocese.org/news/nr042007a.html
Diocese to survey parishioners
http://www.allentowndiocese.org/news/nr090607a.html
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Diocese of Greesnburg
Local Churches Close Doors 12/31/07 http://wjactv.com/error
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Churches celebrate final Masses in three counties 12/31/07 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_545243.html
Six Parishes Announce Building Closings; Each Parish to be Consolidated into One Church Building
http://diopitt.org/news_082607.php
Diocese of Scranton
Rome to hear Sacred Heart Plea 10/20/11
After years of recurring defeats in its quest to save Sacred Heart Church in Wilkes-Barre, a local group scored a late victory when the highest religious tribunal in the Roman Catholic Church agreed to hear its case.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Rome_to_hear_Sacred_Heart_plea_10-20-2011.html
Parishioners of the Wilkes-Barre church, set to close, hold a rally as part of their campaign 5/22/2011
Parishioners from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, slated to shut its doors in June, made a late-game attempt to preserve their place of worship Saturday.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/At_Sacred_Heart__a_fight_for_
survival_goes_on_05-22-2011.html
Appeals to reopen closed US parishes see partial victories 3/14/2011
Catholic parishioners in nearly a dozen Pennsylvania and Massachusetts churches that were closed by their local bishop have won partial victories early this year in appeals to the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, said Peter Borre, a Boston Catholic actively engaged in fighting such closings in several dioceses.
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/appeals-reopen-closed-us-parishes-see-partial-victories
Consolidation moves forward after Vatican rejects appeals 2/22/2011
The consolidation of three parishes is moving forward after the Vatican rejected their parishioner appeals, according to the Diocese of Scranton.
http://standardspeaker.com/news/consolidation-moves-forward-after-vatican-rejects-appeals-1.1108499
Scranton Diocese Approached By International Scam Artist 7/28/08 http://www.pahomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=35001
Catholic churches may close under plan 7/21/08 http://www.wayneindependent.com/news/x223013883/Several-Catholic-churches-may-close-under-plan
Several Catholic churches may close under plan 7/21/08 http://www.wayneindependent.com/news/x223013883/Several-Catholic-churches-may-close-under-plan
Pocono Catholics can rest easy as diocese undergoes restructuring 2/8/08 http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/NEWS
Wilkes Barre Group meets opposition from diocese to save local church (1/5/08)
SACRED HEART WILKES-BARRE FOUNDATION INC
1100 family parish that organized its own non-profit corporation to save their parish home.
http://www.shwbfoundation.com/
Please send your parish consolidation/reconfiguration news to parishrights@futurechurch.org and we will update our information.
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