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A SENIOR Vatican priest has voiced “concern” about plans to force parishioners from a Catholic church in Wirral to share with Protestants.
Campaigners fighting to save the landmark SS Peter and Paul’s church, New Brighton, say they believe authorities in Rome do not know the true situation.
The church is due to close later this month despite a prolonged and increasingly bitter battle by the congregation to keep it open. Shrewsbury Diocese say they have followed church laws throughout.
A letter from the Vatican in May saying there were “no current plans” to shut the church raised hopes briefly, until the Diocese of Shrewsbury brought forward the closure following negotiations with Anglicans to share All Saints Church.
Last night Frank McGowan, chairman of Soul (Save Our Unique Landmark) said: “Basically the letter says that on May 2, when they wrote to us, they had been assured there were no current plans to close the church.
“We wrote back saying here is the evidence – they have got plans.”
The campaign to save the church has been backed by Cllr Tony Pritchard, and a notice of motion passed by Wirral Council.
The latest letter from the Vatican says they had not been told of any “novel plan” to share with a Protestant church and added: “If this were to be so, it would also, naturally, be of concern to this Congregation.”
Fr John Joyce of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, said: “The Diocese of Shrewsbury confirms that the Canonical requirements to close the church of SS Peter and Paul have been fulfilled.
“Copies of the appropriate documentation were forwarded to the Congregation for the Clergy on July 4 prior to the publication of the Decree of Closure on July 5, 2008.”
He said the Bishop had acted within Catholic law.
Letter from the Vatican in full >>>
