Pocono News Section

More Restructuring in Store for Scranton Diocese

More Restructuring in Store for Scranton Diocese - Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 11:00PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 @11:00pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Tens of thousands of Catholics in our area are getting ready for another re-organization and mergers. The Scranton Diocese is once again unveiling plans for restructuring parishes and buildings across our area.

Leaders of the diocese are preparing to launch efforts that will overhaul the entire Catholic Church in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Diocesan Spokesman Bill Genello said, “Unfortunately in the 21st century and the situation that we're in, the status quo cannot be sustained.”

Genello says many churches continue to hemorrhage parishioners. “Therefore we have declining membership in our parishes. That results in many cases, parishes facing financial difficulties, maintaining buildings with less support than they had in the past. And then we have continuing shortage of priests,” he said.

The number of priests serving in the Diocese of Scranton has been in sharp decline. In the 1960s, there were more than 400. It's projected that in 2012, there will only be 147.

Barbara Phillips of Moosic said, They do need to make changes. And, they need to start making changes soon I think.”

All 200-plus parishes will impanel self-study committees to determine long-term viability. Under the plan, churches will collaborate with neighboring parishes and ultimately make recommendations for the future.

Gary Fenton believes these changes have been a long-time coming. “Yeah, I don't think people take notice until there's a shakeup in the church,” he said. “The choice of going to your neighborhood church is going to change. I don't think you're going to choose where you want to go,” he added.

Each parish in the diocese has to submit a self-evaluation based on specific criteria by June 2008. Final decisions on restructuring are expected by January 2009 with implementation set to begin that summer.