Save Historic Jamestown Church | News, Sports, Vacancies

JAMESTOWN — As the choir warms up at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Jamestown, the voices of the choir begin to fill the air.

One can hardly help but wonder if this is what Heaven sounds like.

Or it seems.

Images of faith abound in this historic sanctuary.

Along the walls hang works of art depicting the stations of the cross.

Stained glass windows in honor or memory of many adorn this stunningly, inspiringly beautiful temple.

Opposite the altar and above the organ and choir loft is the church’s iconic rose window, which is visible from inside and outside the church.

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The diocese of Buffalo, which spans Western New York, faces difficult, unenviable decisions to address challenges faced not only by Catholics, such as attendance, finances and the clergy shortage.

In addition, there are claims that particularly, although not exclusively, affect Catholics. For such claims, the New York State government has temporarily extended the statute of limitations by law.

No one can seriously doubt that the facts underlying these allegations are tragic.

Nor can one seriously doubt the consequences of a legislative extension – albeit temporary – of expired statutes of limitations.

Today’s column leaves for another day questions that don’t require any legal genius:

— If the government begins to legislatively extend expired statutes of limitations, where will the stopping point be?

— Is it legal to legally extend, even temporarily, the expired statute of limitations?

“If so, how does the ensuing tragedy of financial damage to long-standing institutions compare with the benefit of compensating plaintiffs for long-ago events for which plaintiffs—for one reason or another—failed to file timely claims?”

—The government of the State of New York, engulfed in the political philosophy dominant in Albany, would have acted as it did if it had primarily damaged a religious institution rather than—except, mind you—(1) traditional (2) Christian a church that (3) effectively (4) opposes the state on (5) specific (6) acute (7) social issues?

Hmmmm.

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Whatever the answers to these questions and whatever the consequences of those answers, the diocese’s decision to close Saints Peter and Saints Paul is wrong.

To the credit of the parishioners’ advocates, they seem to behave as good clients behave with good lawyers: they remain calm, carefully assess the situation and plan their strategy, which, they emphasize, excludes – excludes – the liquidation of any other parish. under the proverbial bus. They are both right and courageous in their desire to save – or, if you prefer, save – Saints Peter and Paul.

The diocese should overturn the diocese’s decision or, if necessary, a higher authority such as the Vatican should overturn the diocese’s decision and keep Saints Peter and Paul open.

The reasons are not hard to see. Let’s look at just a few of them.

— The central place in Western civilization is occupied by the Judeo-Christian tradition, the fundamental and decisive component of which is Catholicism.

“History teaches that communities built around houses of worship are strong communities in many fundamental ways.

— Saints Peter and Paul have been at the center of Catholicism in his community since its inception.

— Saints Peter and Paul have been at the center of the entire community – spiritually and physically – since its founding.

— In this region, many people strongly identify with their ethnic heritage. Many traditional churches, including St Peter and St Paul’s, are associated with a rich, strong and vibrant ethnic heritage.

“The Catholic presence, like that of other Christians and people of other faiths, in this region is also rich, strong and vibrant. There is no disrespect to (1) any other Catholic parish, (2) any non-Catholic parish, or (3) any house of worship of any other faith if we note that the closure of Saints Peter and Paul would cause significant, tragic and unjustifiable harm. not just a Catholic presence, but by extension a Christian presence and even a broader religious presence in the region.

— Are churches more than buildings? You know they are there. However, the region’s cathedrals, including St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s, are simply magnificent. Previous generations conscientiously and generously bequeathed such structures to us. We can’t throw them away. Our sacred duty is to preserve them for future generations. Firstly, because they are our heritage. And secondly, because it is, in all likelihood, financially impossible to build another similar church from scratch in this region in the near future. The closure of Saints Peter and Paul will create a void that the region will not be able to fill anytime soon.

— Congregational advocates have publicly noted that Saints Peter and Paul is financially sound and can continue to exist financially, and that significant financial resources benefiting Saints Peter and Paul would not be available to the diocese if Saints Peter and Paul were to close.

“Closing it could cost the diocese more than it receives, especially if parishioners and their money flee the Catholic Church.” If this happens, the diocese will not be able to afford to close Saints Peter and Paul.

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This region, not just Catholics, must (continue to) rally around efforts to keep Saints Peter and Paul the rich, strong, and dynamic institution that it is.

Not only for the sake of the Catholics in this region, not only for the sake of the Catholic Church in this region, but also for the sake of the entire Christian world in this region and for the sake of the entire region as a whole.

We should all support this cause.

Dr. Randy Elf’s family has belonged to local Lutheran churches for over a century. He strongly encourages anyone associated with temples that have endowments to write his column on how not to eat corn seeds. The column is on and