Sad Reality: Catholic Church Closures in America | EWTN News In Depth November 1, 2024

[@MysteryofTheTrinity]

We see the same issue in Europe and the UK as well. We are sad, but we know that God's Church is indestructible and will last forever. AMEN.

[@LutzWeissmuller]

Just go to the FSSPX

[@ernestaupperlee1755]

We are not helpless. We are the ones in the Pews. Find a traditional Mass and attend it.

[@YuriBaja]

Praying for you to grow in faith and number.

[@ericmadsen7470]

Sad to see this happening. The closing of Churches is heartbreaking. Pray for a resurgence of the Catholic faith in the United States.

[@ernestaupperlee1755]

It is already resurging. Find a Traditional Latin Mass.

[@TherealPeekaboo-007]

Lord grant unto Thy Church saintly priests and fervent religious. By the merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Holy Mother Mary Untier of Knots I pray In the Name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit + Amen

[@freddiefreihofer7716]

The happy face the Church authorities are putting on these "restructurings" is insipid.

[@timfronimos459]

Amen. It's happened all over the country. Let alone cancelling priests.

[@kennethcarney5874]

This flick is lLike putting lipstick on a pig

[@kennethcarney5874]

This flick is lLike putting lipstick on a pig

[@kennethcarney5874]

This flick is lLike putting lipstick on a pig

[@edukaeshn]

TLM is overflowing while NO is struggling to maintain attendance. Diabolical disorientation abounds.

[@RickW-HGWT]

And the hierarchy would rather sell the properties to Muslims, as they did in Buffalo NY. Lori in Baltimore is particularly hostile to the TLM, the hierarchy have failed us on multiple fronts.

[@IODell]

I refuse to participate in the synodal "celebration". Thankfully there is still one TLM left in my diocese.

[@EX58UD]

You know, as a new convert I never understood what was the big deal about NO until I went to another parish that had the 1970's hymns with guitars and distracting music. Even in my limited experience as a catholic, I felt this wasn't a reverent way to celebrate the Mass.

[@VirginMostPowerfull]

If you think this is a NO vs TLM you have a lack of knowledge of why Vatican 2 was needed in the first place. People went to mass but without any belief or understanding it was just cultural, so what's currently happening is a process of purging. Stop thinking the Church was just fine before the NO you're out of touch, and respect the Ecumenical Council.

[@edukaeshn]

@@VirginMostPowerfull Vatican II was not needed.

[@maureengwiranani9096]

Somehow I feel there is an evil motive behind.

[@LutzWeissmuller]

Totally

[@ernestaupperlee1755]

I attended a traditional Latin mass for the first time recently. Let me describe what I saw. The place was packed, standing room only, The line went out the door and onto the lawn. There were young families there, children, babies. If we want to save our future, our parishes; we need to return to the past. Vatican II gave the faithful something none of us asked for. I was born well after Vatican II. All I have ever known was the Novus Ordo. Oh my word, my eyes were open that day. The Mass is not meant to be a community, collaborative affair or chit chat. The Novus Ordo has separated the Faithful from the true purpose of the Mass...Worshiping God! The Priest isn't the guy running the show...He's not the emcee. He is In Persona Christi. The Novus Ordo has intentionally destroyed this roll. What has happened as a result is a loss of faith. We have replaced the Mass with a play or a reenactment of a meal. It is not a meal. It is a sacrifice. Stepping away from that has caused its true meaning to be lost. Unfortunately, if we adopt this Synodal secularist garbage, we will cease to be Catholic. We will cease to be the Church founded by Jesus himself, but rathe a pseudo-protestant Mockery. The path forward is a return to the past. I challenge every Catholic reading this to attend a Traditional Latin Mass...Just One Time. You will see the difference and you will see what was taken from us. You will know why Novus Ordo churches are emptying out. That church I mentioned earlier, well, they need to expand. So, they bought a large, abandoned former Catholic church from a protestant denomination that purchased it from the diocese. Soon, after some maintenance, and remodeling, it will once again serve a growing Catholic parish. The Old way. The way it was meant to.

[@Denis.Collins]

I am old enough to remember the “Old” Mass in “holy” Ireland. I remember people standing at the back, or even on the steps of the Church, chatting, some smoking and one or two even playing cards. They entered at the last second and were out fo there as fast as they could. Faith is what matters not some “magic” language that will make everything better.

[@dominicanderson9492]

​@@Denis.Collinspeople let their phones go off and talk before, during and right after the novos ordo mass. This is mass not your social club

[@CJP9694]

No one said things were perfect hundreds of years ago or closer to our time. But Christendom and up to recent times spread the Faith. I love Tradition. Bring back the reverence and stop protestant style worship and speech. Bring the Faith back, which we see in actual research outcomes of those attending the TLM.

[@LutzWeissmuller]

FSSPX IS THE BEST

[@ernestaupperlee1755]

@@CJP9694 I agree. We didn't need the Novus Ordo. That is where we went wrong. Now this ridiculous Synodal Way junk. By the way, that comes from the same place as Martin Luther. Germany. For centuries the Mass was just fine. Now, suddenly we have Vatican II. Why? By its fruit we shall know the tree. 50+ years later we have discovered the fruit is rotten. Spit it out and return to the truth.

[@KW-mz4pn]

This is incredibly sad!

[@mariafewster4127]

Read Dr. Taylor Marshal's "Infiltration" to realise Why your Catholic Churches are, closing.

[@edukaeshn]

The shepherds are not behaving like shepherds.

[@balukuroben7458]

No a Catholic church building is not a mere building , but the terbanacle with the real presence. Have they been renting the buildings ?if not why sell them off , why don't you arrange with parishioners on how to keep them maintained , just cut costs on power ,water and staff ,but let the sanctuaries remain .

[@ripbeni6198]

I like your view!

[@therese_paula]

😢 Lord Jesus, convict our hearts and draw us to You… Make us thirst for you…🙏🙏🙏

[@RitaGatton]

Here in Cincinnati, we have grouped parishes into “Families”. My church, Saint Catharine of Sienna, is in the Family of the Most Holy Eucharist. On at least one level, musically, the result is tremendous! We have a combined choir of singers from the five parishes. The music that it produces, under the direction of Dr. David Castillo, ranges from magnificent to sublime! If you live in Cincinnati, I invite you to come to the Faure Requiem Mass that the choir is singing on November 8 at 7 PM at Saint Martin Church. The singers are working hard to rehearse for it. Based on what I heard last night at the All Saints Day - First Friday Mass, it will be very, very beautiful!

[@benjohnson4404]

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?" The 'spirit of Vatican II' with it's liturgy abuses has resulted in an absolute cratering of the faith.

[@frvallima7024]

Can’t believe I heard a bishop saying : “buildings are not important”. 😵‍💫

[@alfonstabz9741]

you miss understood the context. our catholic faith started from inn's in Jerusalem to caves and small towns. we can survive without big buildings what matters is Christ is with us and we the faithful still hear. buildings are convenient places for worship and gatherings. but catholic can survive with or without in the past today and in the future. GOODBLESS

[@RickW-HGWT]

​@@alfonstabz9741Gotta disagree, the church building is part of our history, how many sacrificed to build the church which sustained the faithful. The hierarchy in thier contempt for the laity, cannot be trusted in financial matters, look at the billion dollar settlement in Los Angeles, 12 years ago they had an almost equal size one. They don't have a grasp of how bad it is because they are not paying it from their personal funds, same with the buildings it is not thier home so sell it, close it, the Buffalo diocese sold a large church to the Muslims, never considered a sale to a TLM group.

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

@@alfonstabz9741 actually I think they met in people’s homes, but the place switched every time because of the persecution. It probably wasn’t until a couple hundred years later that they actually had a church building to go to.

[@Zach-mw5so]

@@alfonstabz9741The context doesn’t make any sense. Why would any bishop want to DECREASE the amount of parishes? We should be expanding, building new ones in addition to maintaining the old ones. This is the natural result of declining attendance and ultimately Faith. The Novus Ordo has killed that sense of local spirit into this weird new modern corporate age

[@MaryEbr-yq7om]

​@@Zach-mw5so The cost of maintenance.

[@adorabledeplorable5105]

The real sad thing is what happens to these beautiful old church buildings.

[@lozu8947]

Instead of focusing on merging and closing the churches how about focusing on how to get the people back in the pews - start fearlessly preaching the Gospel again.

[@SalT-u5i]

Hope it works out for the community!!!

[@ashwin4319-u9j]

The prayers of generations of saints have gone up to the heavens from these places. Please don't sell them to other religions.

[@jamesmwenda5427]

Especially Muslims

[@Abraham-uk4xy]

Good this is due to downside of the sexual abuse scandal and having to pay millions in legal damages plus the effects of COVID means parishes cannot survive. Good to merge churches as numbers of priests is also less over the last 20 years. The churches can sometimes be sold for.millions of dollars to become cinemas,. libraries, bowling alleys, restaurants etc.

[@onvavoir78]

At 2:07 "The existing 61 parishes will be merged into 30 worship and ministry sites". What does that mean? Are we not to call them churches anymore?

[@thomasvanantwerp728]

Yea, so parishes are being transformed into "worship and ministry sites." Sounds very Protestant, not Catholic.

[@timfronimos459]

Our bishops are posers w crosiers. Business managers w very little faith.

[@vasiliossmith2616]

It's time to return to the one Holy catholic Apostolic Church of the Holy Fathers and the Ecumenical council's decision

[@donnameyer9424]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 Pray for our church ⛪️ 🙏 😢 ❤️ 😔 🙌 ⛪️ 🙏 😢 ❤️ 😔 🙌 ⛪️ 🙏 😢 ❤️

[@andrewrolwes6034]

Restore the traditional latin Mass.

[@erikriza7165]

The euphemism names they give to these plans is insulting to how people feel.

[@michaelhopkins6518]

Greetings from Bloemfontein South Africa. As a devout Catholic I am deeply saddened when I see such news and as a Catechist and propagator of the Faith I'm really up against real negative attacks when people point out the sins committed in our Church re: the horrific clerical and religious abuse of minors, discrimination against LGBTQI+ Catholics and the barring of women serving as deaconesses etc. All these and many other factors are contributing to this now worldwide trend of Catholics leaving the Faith in droves. I love Church architecture and art so when these old beautiful Churches close down - all that hard work and memories just disappear as if they were never there. In South Africa the Catholic Church is going strong but vocations especially to religious orders has dropped significantly. We can only just try in our small ways to witness and pray that our church leaders can wake up! Lead exemplary lives, show love and kindness to others etc.

[@pilar3625]

As long as those archdiocese do not sell the buildings to the islamics groups 😮

[@rakeshchella]

or to BAPS or ISKON

[@RickW-HGWT]

They did in Buffalo NY.

[@keepers...]

Yes. These Bishops desecrated sacred places in the name of "restructuring". What a scam.

[@rosaliabonayog0001]

😢 God speed to help one another to protect it.

[@Iceland874]

What will be done with the beautiful historic buildings? So are people going to have to travel further to attend Mass? Is St Francis Xavier easily accessible to out of state visitors?

[@jonyivre4541]

It's not the number of churches that matters, but their intensity.

[@balukuroben7458]

Prophecy being fulfilled ,many shall loose their faith before the Master Jesus Christ arrives .

[@9nildaniel]

The closing words are very uplifting and showing strength and courage in this difficult and hard time.." I will always be Catholic a practising Catholic..Always Once a priest told me way back when i was in school in the 90s that once he got a call at 3am and the person on the call was so stessed that he told the father that he was abt to commit suicide and the jesuit priest he went to him that very instance and talked to him for 2hrs and just calmed him down and helped him. We need priests and sisters and community to support one another for our future generation.

[@Sicilian1S]

That's what I used to think, once u find christ u will stop praying to mary, joseph and all these statues, yes statues. I have seen it for 8 years. Not interceding, praying to statues. Purgatory the rosery ect, u disagree I get it.

[@bcalvert321]

Yes people are leaving. It may be for many different reasons. Some, the church may not want to hear.

[@aznxchange01]

stop communion in the hand and you will see the difference

[@ancestrosdelsol9494]

All catholics should go to their local parish and support it. Go back to tradition and actually participate. Go to Church! The youth are lost

[@sonusancti]

Demons rush in where people turn away from God.

[@maryreilly5092]

People are changing to the non-denominational, charismatic churches and also to the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic's churches. It's very sad, however, Rome has let us all down, whether we want to admit it or not. That's the real reason why we're losing parishioners everywhere.

[@erikriza7165]

Church history over the centuries teaches us: Periods of great Faith are followed be periods of great building, which are followed by periods of great decline and unbelief.

[@billkolb1305]

Sad what has happened after Vatican II. 😪

[@johnmartin4650]

Wherever possible the stations of the cross should not be left behind.Many of them are beautifully made (maybe most).They will only be destroyed .I suppose storage would be a problem .They might be sold off individually.

[@michaelblair5566]

The entire Diocese of Stubenville is on the verge of closing. our four churches in Lawrence County, Ohio so far are still open. We will eventually be down to probably St. Joseph and St. Ann. And I am about to leave to serve Mass at St. Lawrence, a fine old Irish church.

[@Juliet04738]

& what will then happen to these church buildings?

[@timfronimos459]

Absolutely sickening. The Catholic bishops in America are the greatest bunch of posers w crosiers. Downsize your diocese by 2/3 rds and they smile as if they've been successful.

[@alfonstabz9741]

Catholics should conduct door to door ministry to revive church attendance. go to houses. invite people back to attend church participate.

[@whatisthetruth.8793]

After that they are going to hear the Pope or priest saying it doesn't. What you believe , just wait your turn to go to heaven

[@alfonstabz9741]

@@whatisthetruth.8793 it doesn't what?

[@PosenMarkt91]

Church attendance is not in decline among Traditional Catholics. The empty churches should be given to the Society of St Pius X, and they would soon be full again.

[@lozu8947]

Wonder if these closing churches are mainly in city dwellings? I attend mass in a suburban area and the masses are always full. I’m thinking these closing churches are in city areas where attendance has been declining since the advent and growth of suburban areas

[@mil-ns3rc]

When JESUS RETURNS. THERE WILL BE LITTLE FAITH😢

[@James-fk2ki]

Our priests are not saintly. Thus the result.

[@daughterofchrist1775]

Evangelize the struggling souls all around the parish and invite them to come and discover Jesus.

[@junkshopbest3947]

Seek priests from the Philippines

[@michaelhaywood8262]

and Africa.

[@misskitten8573]

I feel a profound sorrow and this is all madness. All the money and strength spent on the military and plastic surgery make me angry when they let Christ and His angels suffer like this. I refuse to let Jesus suffer alone. Over my dead body.

[@RickW-HGWT]

This is on the hierarchy, no one else.

[@Thefloridarepublic]

Sad situation caused by the hierarchy. Keep giving financially. Fall in line, people. Here in the panhandle of Florida, we have few parishes. I have to drive 11 miles to my closest parish. It's not a hot bed of vibrant faith either. Mediocre at best. Until the horrible people in charge of dioceses are gone, this kind of crap will continue.

[@kennethanderson-co7fw]

Operating a parish costs money. Catholics give approximately 1.1% of their household income, and protestants give 4.4% of their household income. Church attendance is down. Additionally less and less young people 1) claim membership in any church, or are 2) having their children baptized. Secularization of the culture creates question, doubts, and disbelief in God. Older catholics are moving to the sunbelt; while their children (if they go to church) have moved into suburban areas. These are some of the factors. The Church needs evangelization, to evangelize, and the practice of stewardship.

[@terabytetechnews8026]

They need to add TLM with Gregorian chant. The bishops need to accept responsibility and stop blaming things on “The Times”. We don’t want a new church, we want the old church.

[@vrbanitas2021]

People dont go to Mass, yet they blame priests and bishops.

[@VitoVeccia]

Funerals go up, and baptisms go down. This is what happens when society turns away from God. And when we don't raise our children right.

[@edithjasmine740]

Lord have mercy on USA

[@dphillips83]

Urban parishes are now mostly home to older generations, while young families are building their lives in the outskirts where new neighborhoods-and the money-are. It's tough but what's the alternative?

[@nunagoras]

Yeah, that plays a big part on it, but the problem is not just that. Here in Europe it is same thing, and guess what, even on very pretty conservative Trump like rural area places like where I currently live, pretty much only those >75 are regular Sunday attendees. What is the surprise? Congrats EWTN that for one time they were honest on what is really going elsewhere, at very least... Have a nice day!

[@timfronimos459]

St John Cantius parish in Chicago could've been replicated all across America.

[@damaciogutierrez1212]

The Catholics have to do what they got to do whatever works for them

[@erikriza7165]

There is a shortage of Priests. There is a shortage of priests who are faithful. There is also a shortage of fidelity in marriage. There is a shortage of children. There is no shortage of Bishops or Popes.

[@andrewward5891]

They should allow priests to marry. Orthodox priests can be married and they don’t have as much as clergy shortage and don’t have issues of priests molesting kids.

[@Zach-mw5so]

This is by design btw. Most (not all) of the bishops don’t really care. It’s all about the bottom line for them. They’re like corporate managers reflecting the world instead of shepherds of their flocks. And the good ones are outnumbered, they’d never feel the need to close a church that’s been there for decades. Very sad

[@CJP9694]

The majority of the bishops really don’t care. They are running parishes into the ground with Novus Ordo buzz words and worship.

[@Roni78z]

Does St. Ann’s have a Go Fund Me?

[@edwardcontreras1798]

The first destroyer of the Church are the Bishops

[@Sicilian1S]

Jesus is alive forever, not the catholic church buildings. It doesn't matter if catholic churches close, Jesus is the begining and the end the great I Am, Seek christ, not a Catholic church building.

[@Islandalex1]

it's about time the people woke up...ride them out...

[@Sicilian1S]

We need Chrisr,not a Catholic church.

[@reneestevens6683]

Listen to ArchBishop Vigano he is defending the Church of Jesus not this new world religion that is destroying the Way for the practicing Catholic and they do not even realize the Anti Pope says to be faithful but who is he being faithful to is it Jesus/God or Satan ?

[@ems8602]

Thank you, Jesus. We do not deserve to have a Church when your shepherds have left her and remain in communion with an anti pope, whom is a blasphemer, a heretic and whom is eccommunicated under Canon Law. Keep closing em' down Lord!

[@christophermanda8009]

Miss handling of church funds by wolfs among the sheep. Child abuse and so.

[@ceeceeyay]

This is sad news. Funding gets in the way for communities to worship God...

[@Wessim75]

Return to Tradition (TLM), abandon Vatican II proclivities, and save the Faith!

[@alvinandzin1982]

😢

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

John 15:6

[@abrahamphilip6439]

Protestantization,

[@fredlim9031]

This is the result of Vatican II.

[@XYZ-bi9eb]

17 October 2024 "The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse dating back decades, in what an attorney said was the largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese, it was announced Wednesday." uh, if we can just get your priests to stop having sex with children, maybe you could save a lot of money to keep your churches open and give more to your charities. good luck.

[@RickW-HGWT]

It's a billion with legal fees, 12 years ago they had a huge one as well, this on the hierarchy in particular the filth mahoney, this latest on gomez owns it along with his master mahoney.

[@robertanoble6433]

Thank goodness. Bye bye Catholeesizm! 🤣😂

[@reneramirez1416]

THE FAILURE OF YOUR LEADERS, PASTORS AND PRIEST, LIKE IN MANY OTHER CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS - WEAK FAILED PC SERMONS

[@Jeremiah6_16]

😓

[@thetexasliberal283]

There’s nothing sad about closing these awful churches

[@DougBunkers]

All Democrat controlled area

[@blessings27]

Vote for Trump. All the churches will be revived. ✝️

[@nunagoras]

LOL!

[@paulmualdeave5063]

It’s not surprising that kids leave the Church and that our churches close. We have so called Catholics who show no respect to their authorities in the Church, especially the Supreme Pontiff, so why should they not respect parents wishes and remain Catholic? What lessons are dissenters showing their children?

[@Jinkaza1882]

Jesuit Communist should repent. This Pope, disciple of the Red Bishop, most of all.

[@Bourbonandbrews]

Sadly pope Francis isn’t helping when he mandates no Latin masses . When he gives out same sex blessings and has meetings with people like James Martin SJ and doesn’t tell Germany to knock off the gay marriage ideals and woman priest

[@HISwillbedone24]

Disney reimagines. How’d that work out. Keep Saint Ann’s. How about Catechisis and bringing Catholics back to the Church’s. Let’s ensure the reimagining efforts stay faithful to 2,024 years of Divine Revelation, Dogma and Doctrine- let’s IMAGINE a Church that gets back to the roots of its beginning with Christ, seemingly like Saint Ann’s. Let’s teach about sin, repentance, Confession / Reconciliation, the promise after Absolution and the Act of Contrition that we pray afterward, to do our best not to recommit the sins we confessed. How about teaching in a real, meaningful way THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS in the EUCHARIST. Get back to basics. Start teaching, again, that Satan and the Demonic exist and that our mission is to evangelize and help our brothers and sisters check OUR False pride at the Confessional along with our lack of humility. Let’s get back to the foundational teaching of Christ and the church. Reimagining will lead us over the cliff toward Hell if we’re not careful. Praying for our Church, the Bride of Christ and these Diocese dealing with falling attendance. We don’t want touchy feely. We need accountability for ourselves, and each of our brothers and sisters. Together, we can lead one another to Christs calling out to us. He’s waiting. He chose US; probably sad and getting impatient but that’s only a hunch. God bless us all.

[@paulmualdeave5063]

@ The Church does a lot of that. I see this false criticism a lot since people became triggered over a cartoon character wearing a cross. This constant unnecessary criticism isn’t Catholic. It’s Protestant. Martin Luther said the same thing. “Let’s get back to tradition” was his cry too. People have called this anime demonic. There is a diagram explaining the symbolism, yet people prefer to swim in the sins of evil suspicion and rash judgment. Im cradle Catholic and this reminds me of Baptist nonsense from the ‘80s when I grew up. They said the same thing about Dungeons and Dragons. Someone makes something to get into Catholicism. Say “Amen” or get behind me Satan.

[@RickW-HGWT]

​@@paulmualdeave5063Bergolio is not to be trusted, that image could have been a saint, angel, not that thing. The pacamma, the earth mother coin, and other examples show bergolios lack of taste and judgment. At least it was not from the filth rupnick, who he embraces. Check with your boy bergolio, he had a stamp and statue honoring Luther in the Vatican, so he's good with Protestants. Evil suspicion and rash judgment ?, no judgment based on past behavior and insults. This is the same moral imbecile who personally believes hell is empty. Look at the betrayal of our Chinese brethren to the ccp using the filth mccarrick as his toady as proof it is neither holy nor a spiritual father.

[@kp1278]

If the parishioners get their church declared an historic landmark, it can't be closed!

[@andrewward5891]

It just becomes abandoned or a museum. It just can’t be torn down if it’s a historical landmark.

[@Highestintheroom12]

monks spent their whole lives creating these churches

[@andrewward5891]

No they didn’t.

[@davepugh2519]

If god was real there would be no need for churches.

[@PraveenKumar-nt9qb]

This is the result of Vatican II