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Our diocese is doing a rather major restructuring and the church in my small town is being joined to a larger parish. We've heard that the diocese cannot sell off churches unless "the congregation" wants them to.
So, if we're being swallowed up into a parish with five other churches, what's to stop those five churches from making a practical business decision to sell off our Church? Or, to be more direct, who represents the congregation once the parish is reorganized?
What are the rules around closing Catholic churches that are part of restructured parishes?
The bishop with the diocesan presbyteral council may make the decision in this matter. At least Canon Law accords them the power to do so. It sucks, but that is what it is.
Can. 1222 §1. If a church cannot be used in any way for divine worship and there is no possibility of repairing it, the diocesan bishop can relegate it to profane but not sordid use.
§2. Where other grave causes suggest that a church no longer be used for divine worship, the diocesan bishop, after having heard the presbyteral council, can relegate it to profane but not sordid use, with the consent of those who legitimately claim rights for themselves in the church and provided that the good of souls suffers no detriment thereby.
Financial impossibility of maintaining a parish church constitutes a ”grave reason” for selling a local parish church! See the following article: Canon Law and Selling a Church
In restructuring the diocese, the parish in question no longer exists!
