Catholic church closings in Baltimore leave some parishioners angry and upset

[Craig Nigrelli]

THANKSGIVING WEEK BRINGS THE END OF AN ERA FOR MANY CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN BALTIMORE. THE ARCHDIOCESE, THE OLDEST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, IS DOWNSIZING, GOING FROM 61 PARISHES TO 30 WORSHIP AND MINISTRY SITES, STARTING THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1ST.
ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM LORI CALLED THE DECISION “ DIFFICULT” WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE. HE SAYS MANY CHURCHES IN BALTIMORE WERE BUILT WHEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS THRIVING WITH ONE MILLION PARISHIONERS IN THE 1950’S. IT NOW HAS ABOUT HALF THAT OR 570,000 PEOPLE.
IN 2023, THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BALTIMORE DECLARED BANKRUPTCY AFTER HUNDREDS OF CLAIMS OF PRIEST SEX ABUSE THAT SPANNED DECADES. THE ARCHBISHOP INSISTS THE CONSOLIDATION AND CLOSING OF PARISHES WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE SCANDAL.
INSTEAD, THE ARCHDIOCESE ISSUED A STATEMENT STAYING “We have known for a long time that we could not continue to ignore the decline in Mass attendance and increased resources required to keep up with building and property maintenance.”
SOME PARISHIONERS ARE FURIOUS. RALPH MOORE TOLD WBAL-TV THAT HE HAS HAS BEEN GOING TO ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH SINCE 1994. HE SAID, “ WE’RE ANGRY WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE. I THINK THEY HAD NO GOOD REASON TO SHUT US DOWN. WE ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE…OUR BUILDINGS LOOK VERY GOOD, NOT JUST THE CHURCH, BUT THE RECTORY. “
OUR LADY OF POMPEI WAS FOUNDED BY ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS BACK IN THE 1920’S, 100 YEARS LATER, IT’S CLOSING. THERESA DISETA GOT MARRIED THERE.
FIVE GENERATIONS OF HER FAMILY ATTENDED MASS AT THE CHURCH. SHE SAID “ THIS CHURCH HAS BEEN A CONSTANT IN MY LIFE, AND I FEEL LIKE MY HEART’S BEEN RIPPED OUT OF ME. “
BALTIMORE IS NOT ALONE. OTHER LARGE DIOCESE INCLUDING CHICAGO, PITTBURGH AND BUFFALO NEW YORK HAVE ANNOUNCED RE-ORGANIZATION AND CONSOLIDATION PLANS IN RECENT YEARS WITH MANY CHURCHES AND PARISHES CLOSING.