Former Holy Trinity Parishioners File Suit Against Bishop, Diocese....Jan. 23, 2003
By Mitch Fryer, Staff Writer.....LEADER TIMES
www.leadertimes.com

FORD CITY----Parishioners of the former Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church have done everything they could to reopen their church. Even going to court.

     The popular church was closed by Anthony G. Bosco and the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg in June 2002 and consolidated along with two other Catholic churches in Ford City, St. Mary's and St. Francis to form one church, Christ Prince of Peace.

     Holy Trinity has sat empty since then despite the efforts of its more than 1,000 members. In the past those members have asked to speak to the Bishop, sent letters and petitions to the Diocese and made an appeal to the Vatican. `"All ignored," said Steve Russo, a member of the former church's congregation and a member of the "Save Our Church" committee. "We were refused contact."

     On Tuesday the congregation filed a civil action lawsuit in United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against the Bishop and Dioceses in the hopes of getting back the parish.

     "There was no legitimate reason to close," said Russo. "Our only recourse, not the first step but the final step, was to pursue a civil suit."

     According to Russo, the Diocese excuse for the closing was a declining population. "The reality is a consolidation of assets," Russo said. "Holy Trinity has a growing population, new membership and absolute financial solvency.

     "Instead of bringing the Catholic community of Ford City together it created a rift. This was not the positive financial impact they thought it would be or the attendance they expected."

     The suit contends that Bishop Bosco suppressed the parish and closed the church, locking out the people and depriving them of access to their real property as Trustees for the congregation, according to a release from the congregation's attorney, David K. McMullin. The suit has been brought to reopen the church and make a recovery of the congregation's property, McMullin said.

     McMullin said that in similar litigation involving other congregations filed in Pennsylvania state courts the courts have upheld a 1935 state law that a Catholic Bishop "could" violate such trusts and convert property away from the beneficiaries.

     Because the Bishop is taking away the property of Holy Trinity he is also violating a federal law, the Civil Rights Act of 1871, McMullin said. McMullin believes the federal law should take precedent over the state law and he is using that as the basis for the suit. "The core of the suit is just because they are members of the Catholic Church doesn't mean they waive their constitutional rights," said McMullin.

     McMullin said his firm previously sent a letter to the Bishop asking for his cooperation and received back a letter stating that the Bishop was declining the request.

     The Diocese of Greensburg issued a written release late Tuesday through Angela Burrows, executive director, informedia services, stating that the Diocese had not seen the complaint and when received would comment then.

Mitch Fryer can be reached at mfryer@tribweb.com or (724)-543-1303, Ext.242