The former Cathedral of St. Vibiana in Los Angeles yielded to the “Taj Mahoney.” The former church now serves was an “event space.”
http://www.leforumcatholique.org/message.php?num=729741
(Courtesy of Le Forum Catholique)
And even more scandalous, the website of the “event space.”
http://www.vibiana.com/index.html
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles? – as someone remarked of the creator of certain video this week: “No pride, no shame.”
UPDATE:
And this view on the general subject from First Things (which is having its own problems this week):
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/08/unlucky-places-on-deconsecrated-churches
UPDATE II
Rad Trad has kindly drawn our attention to a real Midnight solemn mass filmed in this very same St. Vibiana Cathedral. It was part of a 1944 film featuring then singing superstar Deanna Durbin. A feast for the liturgically inclined!
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4 users responded in this post
Still looks more Catholic than the taj. What a disgrace.
For a view of the original cathedral in 1944: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ1jIIl8IaY
It was a real tragedy when H.Em Cardinal Mahony decided to close and sell it. The venerable building had slow tragic death first recknovated by the same then letting it fall in disreapair untill closed and sold to the highest bidder a sad sad end to the Mother church of the English speaking parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. As an LA catholic I still mourn its loss and fate each time I pass by it.
I’ve witnessed the same fate happen to numerous once prominent church’s in my diocese. I feel it is important we
Acknowledge the fact of diminishing numbers of the faithful attending masses at these church’s. One Church, St Joseph’s
In worcester Ma, comes to mind. On an average Sunday Mass there were often less than 50 persons attending. With the large numbers of families leaving inner cities and their replacements often times being immigrants of less strong a faith, as well as dwindling numbers of the faithful practicing, it is not practical for a diocese to keep and maintain a Church.
Yes, it is often true, these are beautiful structures, and they hold strong and important memories for many. However, the cost of owning, maintaining and operating a Church, when the support and needs of the faithful have changed and lessened, it is impingent on the diocese to close a church.
We must stop being romantics and be practical Catholics, living our Faith. If and when we are realists, others may be impressed with our integrity and reasonableness. Then, perhaps the restoration of Christ’s Church can grow strong.
In the meantime, if we need to pray in small chapels or basements, or in our homes, it is ok. The Holy Spirit can begin and continue the work of true restoration of the Church through a prayerful faithful.
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