Police Enter Church, Remove Parishoners

[Smee]

Traditionally, it has been that police were not allowed to enter a church where someone has sought santuary.

Has a precedent been unknowingly set by the Archdiocese that will have far reaching effects in the future for those who might seek sanctuary from an oppressive government?

New[/url] Orleans police evicted parishioners from two Uptown Catholic churches Tuesday, allowing the Archdiocese of New Orleans to reclaim the churches which parishioners had occupied around the clock for almost 10 weeks.

Police were instructed to arrest occupiers if they resisted, with Archbishop Alfred Hughes deciding "It's time to bring this to a close," spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey said.

In a coordinated operation police, accompanied by lawyers from the city attorney's office, pulled up around 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel on Louisiana Avenue, and at St. Henry Church, on Gen. Pershing Street, about a mile away.

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/new_orleans_police_swarm_uptow.html

Is it a mistake to allow the government to become involved in this religious dispute?

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

Seeking sanctuary is a different thing than granting sanctuary. Sanctuary is granted by the religious leader. In this case the religious leader told the cops to clear the building. Apples and oranges. siegfried schlagrule

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Smee,

think Siegfried Schlagrule hit it on the head.

Also think the last mass was said months ago;
no longer considered a church, just church property.

Shame, has happened to Roman Catholic churches
across the country. Old folks spend their entire religious
experience in one church and when it is not making money
the archdiocese shuts the doors. Something to think on.

have a good un........
SHERMANVILLE

 

[jeff of pa]

they apparently were not putting money in the collection plate.

 

[Smee]

they apparently were not putting money in the collection plate.

THAT is why they are closing . . .

 

[stefen]

they apparently were not putting money in the collection plate.

THAT is why they are closing . . .

Then this is a non-issue...or a soapbox for personal ideology...

Any organized Religion or sect that owns real estate property is operated like a business...simple fact...when the funds (income) ceases then the business closes its doors.

The church in that community is considered to be a branch operation that has proved to be not viable or self-sufficient.

The people were simply trespassing. They were asked to leave and refused. The owners then used its legal right to have them removed.

Therefore, this is not an example of church vs government...or a religious dispute...it's property owner vs trespassers...

 

[BuckleBoy]

Then this is a non-issue...or a soapbox for personal ideology...

Any organized Religion or sect that owns real estate property is operated like a business...simple fact...when the funds (income) ceases then the business closes its doors.

The church in that community is considered to be a branch operation that has proved to be not viable or self-sufficient.

The people were simply trespassing. They were asked to leave and refused. The owners then used its legal right to have them removed.

Therefore, this is not an example of church vs government...or a religious dispute...it's property owner vs trespassers...

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

Now since this is NO LONGER a church they should have no problem with all the local people who have paid their property taxes while the church was exempt starting to charge property taxes. they should also have no problem with the locals coin shooting the grass. siegfried schlagrule

 

[Jimmy(PA)]

It sucks about the churches closing but I can understand why. The once large Catholic Parishes around here have seen flight over the past 30 years depending on the community with most residents moving away from the rising crime rates and hoodlums (very few of which are Catholic around here) so churches which once had several thousand members especially in the old Irish, Polish, and Italian neighborhoods are down to maybe a few hundred and they just don't need the huge churches, schools, and properties anymore. On the other hand all these residents are boosting the numbers in the suburban parishes. I dont think there was any need to lock themself in the church though thats just foolish, dont these people have jobs?

 

[Jimmy(PA)]

Oh and I have to add that they need to have stricker guidlines on tax exemption, everyone and there mother in the ghetto's here turn the basement of there rowhouse into a fake "church" to avoid property tax. Throw in a few folding chairs, a homemade "Church of God" sign out front, and pay no taxes? Come on, who approves this crap, its a residential property.

 

[Michigan Badger]

I may be way out of line here but I thought the people were the church. The building just houses the church (the people).

Buildings always belong to someone. Souls belong to the Creator. Make sense?

Okay, I'll go back to Comedy Central

Badger