Church closing stuns parishioners. Worshipers 'floored' by armed escort from building

[Johnboy60]

BRIDGEPORT — For months, parishioners of Holy Trinity Church prayed they were beating the odds. They held potluck suppers. They hosted bazaars and tag sales.

In short, they raised lots of money — enough, they hoped, to keep their struggling Black Rock parish alive.

But worshipers at what is believed to be the oldest Hungarian Byzantine parish on the East Coast said they were devastated by the announcement last Sunday that the church was closing. But what happened next, they said, was unconscionable.

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_3185955

 

[Texas Lynn]

Weird. But I suspect such will happen more and more as churches continue to ignore Christ's advice for settling disputes in Matthew 18.

[from the article]...a letter from the head of their diocese — Eparchy of Passaic Bishop Andrew Pataki — advising the congregation of the immediate shutdown....

Any relation to George, our erstwhile Governor here in the Empire state?

 

[Selznak]

Wow! What on earth...

 

[Selznak]

Weird. But I suspect such will happen more and more as churches continue to ignore Christ's advice for settling disputes in Matthew 18.

Thank you for mentioning this, Lynn. It's unfortunate how often we overlook the wisdom of the Scriptures in dealing with these types of problems.

 

[MadeInOz]

Ridiculous.

 

[Ave Maria]

How horrible! Why on earth did they need armed guards?? Actually, why did they even need guards to escort them at all????

 

[trunks2k]

How horrible! Why on earth did they need armed guards?? Actually, why did they even need guards to escort them at all????

I can kinda see why. If emotions were running really high, and they suddenly break the news that the church is closing, I'd probably be fearful of things getting out of hand.

 

[Ave Maria]

I can kinda see why. If emotions were running really high, and they suddenly break the news that the church is closing, I'd probably be fearful of things getting out of hand.

Yeah but using armed guards is extremely disrespectful... especially in a church! I mean, they may have had some unrest but they're not terrorists!

 

[BarbB]

This was also an issue in some church closings in Boston in the past few years, I believe. I remember reading in Yankee about a parish where in anticipation of violence the police were called to close a church. Aarrgghh!

 

[Rochir]

They should take heart in the "wherever two ir more assemble in my name, there I shall be!" teaching of Christ! They could found their own new church, no? Meet in the house of someone, sing their songs there

 

[Quantos]

I had to read this a few times , I couldnt beleve Where it was happning.

I understand church closings, that will happen when people mismanage money, But what I find disturbing is

1) The Way the announcment was made.
2 - 9999....) The Use of Armed Guards.