Sunday 15 September 2013

Remember the one about the Bishop who wanted to sell off the old church?.....

....and build a new one well out of town, far from the hub of humanity?

I have posted on it before under the heading, The Battle Of Aberystwyth but, just to refresh memories in a few words:-

Bishop Thomas Burns of Menevia tried to move quickly to clinch a property deal that would net him some capital with which he would, presumably, aim to reduce the considerable debts of the Diocese as well as build a new church.

Some say, allegedly, that he moved a shade...um....er....snakily?
Is that the right word?
At any rate, those parishioners who are opposed to the move do say that (allegedly) not all was revealed when it should have been - I cannot verify that...my stance is one of being a reporter (not a journalist) and I am trying to present things as evenly as possible.

Some months ago the affair was placed before the Town Council who, also, came out unanimously, in favour of rejuvenating the old church and keeping the in town community together.

And now......the good parish priest, Fr Neil Evans, who was thrust into this row just as it was erupting, has written an open letter to the Bishop.

Here it is.

I leave you to draw your own conclusions:-

                                                                      3 September 2013
Dear Bishop Tom,
Thank you for visiting us at the weekend, for celebrating Mass, and for speaking to the congregation after each Mass about the future of the parish. Strong views were expressed on all sides but I feel that (in the meeting after the 11 o'clock Mass) a consensus began to form around the idea of setting up a forum of experts and interested parties to establish the facts (with the help of a newly commissioned independent structural survey) as the way forward to reconciliation and healing in the parish which clearly, and thankfully, is what everyone seems earnestly to desire. Let us pray that such an agreed course of action will indeed take place and that it will have the happy result of bringing us all closer together.
On a less happy note, I'm sorry to say that I was dismayed to learn that you recently arranged a meeting in Carmarthen with a small group of ("eight or nine") parishioners to discuss with them the way forward as a parish, without informing me of the meeting or inviting me to participate. If consulted, I would have pointed out the importance (pastorally) of avoiding the impression that the future (demolition) of St. Winefride's is being discussed (mainly or exclusively) only with members of Penparcau Church / Aberaeron Church, because (if true) this in itself would seem to confirm the lack of support from St. Winefride's.
This decision (not to inform me of the meeting) seems to me to indicate a certain lack of respect for me both as parish priest and as a Trustee of the Diocese, and I feel therefore that I have no choice but to press you to accept my resignation from the Board of Trustees which previously you declined to accept. I don't believe that having secret meetings with parishioners without informing the parish priest is the best way forward.
From the beginning of our discussions, Bishop Tom, on the future of the parish, I have consistently argued for openness, transparency and inclusivity — the importance of dialogue and of listening to, respecting and responding to all points of view.


Therefore, as you and the Vicar General know, for a long time I have been uncomfortable with the restrictions of so many confidential meetings, confidential letters and confidential conversations regarding the future of the church in Aberystwyth. I feel there is something unhealthy about so much secrecy. It creates suspicion and a lack of trust – as in the present case, as parishioners learn about this secret meeting in Carmarthen and want to know who was invited, how they were chosen and for what purpose.
As I have stated on several occasions, I feel that our situation in Aberystwyth would have been resolved much earlier, and more amicably, if as Trustees we had agreed to commission an independent structural survey to be carried out on St. Winefride's, and committed everyone to accepting the conclusions of such a survey as a basis for discussion.
As you know, I am also unhappy, indeed I was quite shocked, that Peter Lindsay arranged for the locks on the presbytery door in Aberystwyth to be changed (twice) without asking my permission as parish priest. Peter says he did this on his own authority. As I mentioned in my letter to Peter, although not an expert in Canon Law, I feel sure that such an (unauthorised) action is contrary to Canon Law.
As a Trustee, -have also been concerned that„. as Trustees we have-not been kept fully ______  informed of developments – for instance, it has recently come to my attention that, as Trustees, we have instructed a new firm (Asbri) to represent us in our dealings with Ceredigion County Council. This happened before the last Trustees' Meeting but we were not informed of this significant development, nor were we informed that a few days prior to our last meeting Aberystwyth. Town Council (unanimously) rejected the Diocesan plan to demolish St. Winefride's, and (unanimously) accepted the parishioners' plan to renovate and extend St. Winefride's. I do not understand this reluctance or failure (of our advisors) to keep the Board of Trustees fully informed, nor do I think that it is acceptable. Of course, the Council of Clergy is even less enlightened about the situation in Aberystwyth.
I realise that on the subject of Aberystwyth my voice has often been a lone, discordant, voice on the Board of Trustees, and I think therefore that it would be more congenial to replace me on the Trustees with someone who would be more sympathetic to Diocesan plans and procedures and so I resign from the Board of Trustees with immediate effect.

Once again, I thank my fellow Trustees for their confidence in me when inviting you to appoint me to the Board of Trustees in June 2010.

29 comments:

  1. It is wprrying when our priests cannot rely on the support of their Ordinary - and something it would seem that we are hearing more of.
    How very sad, and may God bless Fr.Neil Evans.

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  2. This is a very sad case. I know the church. I was in St. Mary's College (late vocations...though I was not exactly "late")for two years. I have fond memories of it and one very personal memory which I will carry with me to my grave. I met someone from the parish recently who told me that there are no structural problems at all.
    I am sorry to say this, but someone or some people in that diocese have a lot of questions to answer and let us hop that the Congregation for the Clergy takes a hand quickly before the whole thing becomes a major scandal.

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    1. In response to a parishioner's petition, the Congregation of the Clergy found in favour of the Diocese in this matter. Despite this judgement which was upheld on appeal, the parishioner took it to the Apostolic Signatura who also found in favour of the Diocese.
      You'd think that'd be an end of the matter, but some seem determined to plunge all us parishioners - and generations to come - into crippling debt for many years. The Church is not about buildings.

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  3. I had great respect for Fr Neil, but I'm afraid he got the wrong end of the stick in his letter to the Bishop. Parishioners here who are extremely anxious and troubled by the situation in our parish asked to meet with the Bishop. There was nothing underhand or secretive about it. I have read your comments on this situation before, Richard. You state 'I am trying to present things as evenly as possible'. I beg to differ! The protesters here do not have the overwhelming support they may think, they have no mandate to speak on behalf of the parish, though that has never stopped them in the past. One thing I have learned from this sorry situation is not to believe what is printed in the press or on blogs. Ours is a large parish geographically, and the vast majority of us travel to Mass by car, giving a lift to those who do not/cannot drive. I suggest a little more research on your part is needed to present a fairer point of view before you come out with sweeping statements.
    Sue

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  4. In what continues to be a debacle of epic proportion, we are now in the situation where despite support from Rome, we are no nearer a resolution as there is no planning permission to demolish the existing church or to build a block of fats on the site. So, actually it makes absolutely no difference what Rome thinks, it all hinges on the decision of the local council anyway. If a block of flats is not needed in the overall scheme of things, then the plan will b rejected. What would the next step be then?


    Clearly, none of this would have been the case if the matter had been handled transparently and openly from the word go, and based on an independent survey. And that, surely, is what Fr. Neil has said in his letter!

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    1. Surely, Tom, if the protesters were good Catholics, they would take the judgement from Rome as the last word in this matter and would support the Diocese accordingly with the local planning authorities. But no, they have the arrogance to put their personal aims above the good of the parish. Perhaps the protesters - who, it seems, have been meeting in secret for some years - are the ones who lack transparency.
      Sue

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    2. "Surely, if X were a good catholic he would do Y" is an unfortunate line of argument, Sue.

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    3. Well, don't you think it strange, Simon, that an individual would approach the Congregation of the Clergy in the first place if they have no intention of abiding by their decision..but then they go on to appeal that decision which, when it doesn't go their way puts their case before a higher authority at the Vatican? Where's the respect for the authority of the Church ? I can only conclude that this person has their own personal agenda against the Diocese. By the way, we parishioners had no idea this was happening until after the event, so who was it who 'moved a shade ...um...er...snakily'.
      Sue

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  5. Thanks for the reply Sue. I do appreciate your views. I wonder though what is the way forward if the local authority don't agree to the project. Maybe a fully independent survey not commissioned by the diocese or parish is the way forward. Should that put the condition of the church beyond repair, then all parties would have to get behind that

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  6. Sue, I am sorry that you find my post biased in favour of those who wish to keep the old church. I am definitely biased but tried to be as even handed as possible. It would be very interesting to hear from the old and infirm of the parish; I suspect they would be for keeping the church in Aberystwyth rather than placing it outside even if, as the Bishop points out, "It's on a bus route".
    That comment proves to me that he has little concept or regard of what it must be like to be aged in a country where Sunday buses are as rare as a Latin Mass.

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  7. Richard, old people are able to drive to Mass too, or someone gives them a lift. Infirm people never had any trouble getting to Mass when Welsh Martyrs was still open in Penparcau, in fact I can think of some parishioners who were able to attend Mass there, but unable to do so in St. Winefride's.
    I don't mean to labour the point, but the vast majority of people here travel to Mass by car, only a handful walk. Some may be old, but they are not infirm.
    Far from what you may have been told, the Diocese is doing the best for this parish, but a stubborn - and arrogant in their stance against the Vatican - few will stop at nothing to have their way. Goodness knows what their motives are when they put the extremely costly renovation (to be borne by parishioners) of a few decrepit buildings above the overall future welfare of our parish. Doesn't show much commitment if folk can't take the trouble to go the extra mile to get to Mass.
    Sue

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  8. Sue, it is a basic element of planning that you build where the 'footfall' is. You would not build a cinema, community centre or grocery store in Penparcau, so why a church.
    Very basic common sense.

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  9. Because Penparcau is where a lot of the people are Richard, it being the largest residential area in Aberystwyth. And as I've said before, most of parishioners who formerly attended St. Winefride's do not live in Aber itself, but in surrounding villages.
    A new church, presbytery and parish hall (planning permission already granted) would cost us nothing if the St. Winefride's site were sold for development. Restoration - just to get it in a fit state to re-open - would cost millions.
    Also very basic common sense
    Sue.

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  10. Sue, I am sorry to appear tedious but Penparceau has a population of 3,126 (in total).
    Aberystwyth has 18,965. That gives me an indication as to where the church should be.

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    1. ...and as such Penparcau is the biggest ward of the town, so making a nonsense of your statement that a church, presbytery and parish hall would be :
      'far from the hub of humanity.' ?
      NB St. Winefride's is situated in the North Ward (pop.2641 census 2011)
      Sue

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  11. I know nothing of this situation. But as a general rule any Catholic Church built after 1965-ish has resembled a cross between a bingo hall and a chip shop. I would stick with the old building if at al possible. There is historical power there.

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    1. Anon 4:28: some old buildings are worth saving, others are not. The church and presbytery in question fall into the latter category. It's taken a lot of money over the years to keep them going, but this parish, though numerous and vibrant, cannot afford to do so any longer.
      It's just a shame that some cannot accept that fact which would enable us to move forward.
      Sue

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  12. Is that the French quarter?
    I have no wish to be pedantic, Richard, but Penparcau is part of Aberystwyth, and yes, there is a grocery store and community hall there too. St. Winefride's is at the northernmost tip of Aberystwyth and looks into the back yards and bins of hotels on the prom.
    Sue

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  13. Sue, I will delete any of your comments that are offensive to the PP.

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  14. Your defense of Fr Neil is admirable Richard, I didn't write anything I wouldn't feel able to write to him or say to his face. It's a shame you can't find it in your heart to show the same courtesy to our Bishop who's just trying to do the best for us all here.
    Sue

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  15. Sorry to make a possibly meanininglessly late comment, but the church SHOULD be wanting to make a lot more of a lio amongst the temporary population of university students who WALK and live around the town .
    St Winifede's is well, if not ideally , situated as a base.Students WALK.Maybe in ten-fifteen years time its retention will produce many blessings to many souls, even, their salvation.
    The far end of a suburb is not.Perfect by car - ever seen Aber? but the student going there gonna be blessed with heroic sanctity already.
    Being nasty judgemental : the church , starting with the contraceptive mentality amongst laity , has already sacrificed enough of the future of the kingdom of God on earth, for the present.
    Confess interest : some of the family ve studied there. whereas of the good locals Sue talks of I know none.
    I have known cases where authorities , local and church, behaved havy cavy out of habit where they did in fact have a good case, that said , people as say a buildings fabric is unsustainable usually mean that they're drooling over the site value.

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  16. Thanks Mike. I have tried to make the student point in previous posts but those in favour of a nu church just appear to be blinkered.

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  17. Was that a little dig, Richard? Can't get hold of any blinkers, they're on permanent loan to those who are determined to keep St. Winefride's at any price.
    Sue

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  18. Skimming back over previous posts on this subject, Richard, it's obvious that you are simply repeating carefully selected truths and half truths being passed on by a core protester. Easy for you who has no fiscal responsibility in the matter. Of course, the design of a modern church does not allow for mass in the EF....
    Sue

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  19. Sue, I am sorry but you do not know what you are talking about. The EF Mass may be celebrated in a modern church, sometimes with a little minor difficulty but no great problem.
    Please give it a rest, you are not doing yourself any favours.

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  20. On the contrary, Richard, as a parishioner here I know exactly what I'm talking about! I don't intend to do the protesters here any favours. Perhaps it is you who should give this a rest....
    Sue

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  21. The 260 supporters of SOS are also parishioners but the bishop doesn't have meetings with them. In fact all attempts to set up a meeting with the bishop over the last 5 years have met with silence. Most of our letters also go unanswered too. It seems some parishioners are more equal than others. If they are so sure of their facts then why not submit them to scrutiny and discussion - and TAKE A VOTE ON IT!

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