RC DIOCESE CHURCH CLOSINGS
CONTRIBUTE TO URBAN BLIGHT

The Diocese of Albany is closing a number
of churches and schools in Albany, Cohoes
Watervliet, Troy and Schenectady this year.

The unintended result of these closings will
be increased neighborhood deterioration
and blight.

These closings are shortsighted because
population shifts back to these cities will
occur as the economy worsens and oil
becomes too expensive and scarce to
support commuting to the suburbs.

Ironically, the Diocese of Albany is a major
recipient of social services monies from the
state.

It is imperative for the Mayors and City
Councils to enter into discussions with
the Diocese of Albany and New York State
to come up with a plan to keep RC churches
and schools in the above named cities open.

Neighborhoods are made up of people, and
houses anchored by neighborhood churches
schools and shops.

Take away neighborhood schools, churches
and shops:neighborhood detrerioration, blight
poverty and crime result.

Arbor Hill and the South End in Albany are
two examples. Both were once thriving neigh-
borhoods with neighborhood schools, churches
and many small shops which provided services
goods and employment for neighborhood
residents.

Any urban renewal efforts that fail to include
neighborhood schools, churches and shops
are doomed to failure.

St Teresa's Church and School in Albany
must not be allowed to happen. If the Diocese
can't run them, parishioners must seek out
Religious Orders of priests and nuns, who can.

The same goes for similar parish churches and
schools in Troy, Schenectady, Cohoes and Watervliet.

Parishioners must stop behaving like the
proverbial sheep and resist these church and
school closings. Seek alternatives.

It may be time to recall priests from the
foreign missions to serve in our urban
parishes.

Reach out to Orders and seminaries in
the U.S. ,Canda and Europe in search of
priests and nuns to keep
our local urban parish churches and
schools open.

Do this in memory of your ancestors who
founded these churches and schools; and
do this with recognition that neighborhood
churches and schools are essential to
maintaining neighborhood identity and
quality of life.

Joe Sullivan