Church group
losing to diocese
WILKES-BARRE - After exhausting the traditional appeal process to reopen Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in North Wilkes-Barre, the group dedicated to its preservation is nearly out of options.
The Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation Inc. has fought to keep the North Main Street church open since the Diocese of Scranton announced its closing in 2009 as part of a widespread consolidation. The action, known as the Called to Holiness and Mission, shuttered 10 churches in the Wilkes-Barre area.
The foundation appealed the diocese's decision and took its case to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome, the highest court in the Catholic Church. The court rejected the appeal in November, citing diocese estimates that it would cost $3.4 million to repair the church. But since the ruling had to be translated from Latin into English, the foundation's leaders did not learn of the decision until earlier this month.
The foundation will forward the appeal to the Pope, but Anthony Foti, a longtime parishioner and a founder of the group, admits that's a long shot.
"We're in for a dime, in for a dollar," Mr. Foti said.
While Bishop Joseph C. Bambera has not decided what to do with church, Diocese spokesman William Genello said that it's possible the building could meet the same fate as the former St. Therese Church in South Wilkes-Barre, which was closed in 2011 and demolished Wednesday. The property is now listed for sale.
Mr. Foti said such an outcome would be a "worst-case scenario" for a church with such a rich history.
Contact the writer: chong@citizensvoice.com, @CVChrisHong