Supporting a church and a community

I was touched by the Aug. 25 article “Group Takes Issue With Removal of Items From Allentown Church” about St. George and the people of Allentown who are bravely fighting for the preservation of an important church in their community. It is obvious that this church means very much to its practitioners and it has given them an important safe gathering place to give and get much needed support, practice their faith, connect to God, appreciate beauty in the heart of Allentown, and have an important venue to communicate effectively, to socialize appropriately, and plan and hold healthy activities for all age groups.

Bishop David Zubik continues to thwart their considerable efforts to save their church and has repeatedly rejected reasonable proposals of the people of the church to be able to keep their church. It is hard to understand why, when the cost and upkeep of the church would no longer be on the diocese. It certainly appears that the bishop is not acting as the Lord would — and may need to return to the teachings of God and follow the direction of the higher power.

In this highly challenging time of the pandemic, protests, unrest in our cities, increasing unemployment, increased stress on families as schools are closed and money is tight, and food and housing insecurity, what in God’s name is Bishop Zubik waiting for but to assist in supporting spatiality and the health of the community he is suppose to be serving?.

Rather than putting things in storage and locking the doors of a church, these items ( which were mainly paid for out of the modest earnings of its practitioners) should be out in the light on display to the Allentown community and the church building returned to its rightful owners. Apparently they know how to be more Catholic and know how to better practice their religion, no thanks to this bishop.

ANNE TOLAND

McCandless