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OFFICIAL DECREE FROM BISHOP DAVID A. ZUBIK REGARDING ST. LAWRENCE O'TOOLE CHURCH BUILDING
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DECREE
By the Grace of God and the Authority of the Apostolic See
DAVID ALLEN ZUBIK
BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
CLOSING FOR WORSHIP OF SAINT LAWRENCE O'TOOLE CHURCH BUILDING, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA AND THE REDUCTION OF THE SAINT LAWRENCE O'TOOLE CHURCH BUILDING OF SAINT MARIA GORETTI PARISH TO PROFANE BUT NOT SORDID USE.
Whereas, Saint Lawrence O'Toole church located at 5323 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, church of the former Saint Lawrence O'Toole Parish, became part of the patrimony of the newly formed Saint Maria Goretti Parish with a decree issued on March 22, 2012 and effective on June 4, 2012, in accord with the norm of canon 122 §2.
Whereas, Saint Maria Goretti Parish was formed by the extinctive union of Immaculate Conception - Saint Joseph Parish and Saint Lawrence O'Toole Parish.
Whereas, the age and physical condition and maintenance of parish owned buildings, including church buildings, is beyond the ability of the parish to afford.
Whereas, the Saint Lawrence O'Toole church building is in poor physical condition: the interior of the church has sustained serious plaster and water damage due to a leaking roof. The cost of replacing the roof being over $250,000, which exceeds the parish's ability to afford. Furthermore, mold has been found to be growing in the basement of the church.
Whereas, the threat of falling plaster and the presence of mold in the basement has rendered the church unsafe for worship.
Whereas, Saint Maria Goretti Parish currently has debts and accounts payable of over $900,000. Whereas there is no other source of funding for the costs described above.
Whereas the Saint Lawrence O'Toole church building is not needed by Saint Maria Goretti
Parish.
Whereas, on March 5, 2020, the Pastor of Saint Maria Goretti Parish, with the recommendation of his parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, submitted a petition recommending the relegation to profane but not sordid use of Saint Lawrence O'Toole church building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Whereas, the care of souls will not be impacted as the members of Saint Maria Goretti Parish worship at the nearby Immaculate Conception and Saint Joseph churches.
Whereas, the rationale for the closing Saint Lawrence O'Toole church building for divine worship include the following:
(1) the dire financial situation of the parish, including the parish's inability to continue maintaining three church buildings; (2) the need to reduce costs for the financial viability of the parish; (3) the required maintenance that this church building currently needs, the cost of which is beyond the ability of the parish to afford; (4) there is no other viable source of income to maintain the church; (5) the care of souls will not be greatly impacted because of the availability of two other churches owned by the parish.
Therefore, having heard the Presbyteral Council on March 12, 2020 and the Vicars General on the same day and having received a unanimous favorable recommendation from both and in accord with the provisions of canon 1222 §2 of the Code of Canon Law, I hereby close for worship Saint Lawrence O'Toole church building located at 5323 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and furthermore relegate to profane but not sordid use the same church building in accord with the norms of law.
In accordance with our diocesan norms, I also decree that the stained glass windows, sacred items, non-sacred artifacts and any work of some significance be removed to the extent possible for reuse in other sacred edifices in the parish or be transmitted to the Diocesan Archives for use by other ecclesiastical entities. This decree is effective at 12:01AM on July 1, 2020.
Finally, those who have the right, may appeal this decree in accordance with the prescriptions of the law.
Given at Pittsburgh this the 29 th day of May in the Year of Our Lord 2020.
Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh
Ellen M. Mady
Chancellor