I receive a copy of a letter by PACS!
Council President David A. Franczyk
City of Buffalo
1315 City Hall
Buffalo, NY 14202
Dear Mr. Franczyk,
I am writing on behalf of many citizens of Polonia in Western New York and also on behalf of members of an organization I am cochairperson of - CPACS - Catholic Parishioners Against Church Suppression. I would like to express the gratitude of all these folks for the City of Buffalo Council courageous stand against the Diocese of Buffalo in the face of criticism of your recent resolution opposing ethnic church suppression.
The diocese has some ill conceived plans to downsize and close Buffalo neighborhood churches which is in direct contradiction to the words and admonition of the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, before he ascended to heaven. He announced the great commission to go into the world to all places and spread the Good News! (And not to retreat!) CPACS also believes the diocesan actions constitute ethnic church suppression!
I edit a website www.catholicpacs.com with the help of two other cochairpersons of CPACS who are dedicated Catholics, Mary Ann Herrington (faramah@roadrunner.com), a popular WNY newspaper columnist and Phil Julian (pajulian@verizon.net) who also writes articles for WNY newspapers. A group of Catholic parishioners started this organization (which operates mainly from the Dunkirk-Fredonia area of Chautauqua County) in reaction to what we believe to be the largest ill-planned closing of Catholic churches in US history. Here in the Diocese of Buffalo - 100 churches might be closed!
Yesterday's Buffalo News headline "Parish Plan angers many Poles" is a very accurate description of the situation. We believe the Diocese of Buffalo is closing twice the number of churches than were closed in the larger Archdiocese of Boston where a battle is still in progress between the laity and hierarchy.
The mammoth size of the suppression here is causing great consternation among thousands of Catholics in our diocese. What is also troubling is that the diocese stated to CPACS that they are not closing any parishes but simply merging them. Their play with word games is rather disturbing to say the least. Also, why is the Bishop and diocese so critical of Catholic laity (who have been supporting the diocese for all these years) for having opinions on the subject of church suppression? The first words listed at our website - the Catholic Code of Canon Law - authored by the Catholic Church encourage and solicit lay opinions.
CPACS has been contacted by parishioners throughout WNY including citizens from the City of Buffalo so we have expanded our mission to include people throughout the WNY area and in all counties of the Diocese of Buffalo. We hope to get extra help this way through a "solidarity" with a more diverse group - liberal and conservative, from all nationalities, colors and walks of life fighting for our cause.
If you have any questions after visiting our website please let me know. Also, if I can be of any help concerning the situation, please let me know. Thanks for your time and consideration in supporting the cause of Jesus in WNY to keep our churches open and not suppressed.
Sincerely,
Bill Parks
Cochairperson
CPACS
6 Andrew Court
Fredonia, NY 14063
716.679.9613
stanwrite@aol.com
www.catholicpacs.com
City of Buffalo
1315 City Hall
Buffalo, NY 14202
Dear Mr. Franczyk,
I am writing on behalf of many citizens of Polonia in Western New York and also on behalf of members of an organization I am cochairperson of - CPACS - Catholic Parishioners Against Church Suppression. I would like to express the gratitude of all these folks for the City of Buffalo Council courageous stand against the Diocese of Buffalo in the face of criticism of your recent resolution opposing ethnic church suppression.
The diocese has some ill conceived plans to downsize and close Buffalo neighborhood churches which is in direct contradiction to the words and admonition of the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, before he ascended to heaven. He announced the great commission to go into the world to all places and spread the Good News! (And not to retreat!) CPACS also believes the diocesan actions constitute ethnic church suppression!
I edit a website www.catholicpacs.com with the help of two other cochairpersons of CPACS who are dedicated Catholics, Mary Ann Herrington (faramah@roadrunner.com), a popular WNY newspaper columnist and Phil Julian (pajulian@verizon.net) who also writes articles for WNY newspapers. A group of Catholic parishioners started this organization (which operates mainly from the Dunkirk-Fredonia area of Chautauqua County) in reaction to what we believe to be the largest ill-planned closing of Catholic churches in US history. Here in the Diocese of Buffalo - 100 churches might be closed!
Yesterday's Buffalo News headline "Parish Plan angers many Poles" is a very accurate description of the situation. We believe the Diocese of Buffalo is closing twice the number of churches than were closed in the larger Archdiocese of Boston where a battle is still in progress between the laity and hierarchy.
The mammoth size of the suppression here is causing great consternation among thousands of Catholics in our diocese. What is also troubling is that the diocese stated to CPACS that they are not closing any parishes but simply merging them. Their play with word games is rather disturbing to say the least. Also, why is the Bishop and diocese so critical of Catholic laity (who have been supporting the diocese for all these years) for having opinions on the subject of church suppression? The first words listed at our website - the Catholic Code of Canon Law - authored by the Catholic Church encourage and solicit lay opinions.
CPACS has been contacted by parishioners throughout WNY including citizens from the City of Buffalo so we have expanded our mission to include people throughout the WNY area and in all counties of the Diocese of Buffalo. We hope to get extra help this way through a "solidarity" with a more diverse group - liberal and conservative, from all nationalities, colors and walks of life fighting for our cause.
If you have any questions after visiting our website please let me know. Also, if I can be of any help concerning the situation, please let me know. Thanks for your time and consideration in supporting the cause of Jesus in WNY to keep our churches open and not suppressed.
Sincerely,
Bill Parks
Cochairperson
CPACS
6 Andrew Court
Fredonia, NY 14063
716.679.9613
stanwrite@aol.com
www.catholicpacs.com
.jpeg)
Comments