Vatican explains when churches can be demolished

[tlaniganschmidt]

if the Mass were once again seen as a great work of Art,more Catholics might be inspired to see Mass as more than a perfunctory-ritual

[thesnake52000]

Sad that this is a reality.

[BlackCappa]

Since when was it okay to give up a church?

[BeingBob]

Some of the churches here are so ugly it would be a blessing to have them knocked down. cheap chairs with fold out kneelers, cheap carpet, colorless concrete forms and cheap etched glass replace the beautiful artistic creations of the past. And those are the wealthy parishes. Older more traditional parishes have had their art painted white with drywall to hide the place where the beautiful altar once climbed the eastern wall. ugly is the word in the USA. I think that's what they're talking about

[BlackCappa]

Well there are plenty of highly outrageous architectural mistakes here in Europe also. But once consecrated, I cannot really feel good with simply "abandoning" a church.

Perhaps demolishing the ugly ones and building a new traditional one on top instead?

Here what is being given up are the old monasteries that are "too costly to maintain".

Sad

[BeingBob]

It's very sad. I think they deconsecrate the church building and grounds, and hopefully recover any relics. Attachment to buildings is not only costly in terms of money, but also it can lead to scattered and weaker faith communities.

As for monasteries... They need to fill them with young men again. Where I live the change in attendance, etc is mostly due to people leaving the community, but in some places it's just people losing faith and not caring.

I know where you can buy a convent.