I Have To Change Churches

[Basilisa Marie]

Assuming this wasn't done maliciously, some people can be completely clueless.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1321232953' post='2335873']
My parish has lost its mind. They have put in a $6000 key system with a keypad on only one door. So that means that I will no longer be able to enter the church where the elevator is. Someone will have to go in on the other side of the church, go to the other side, and ride the elevator down to the entry to let me in. There were three of us waiting outside in the snow today. One elderly lady left. I finally got inside, but that won't help me open up for Women's meetings. I'm supposed to have keys and a pin number for the key pad, but the secretary at church who is supposed to give it to me refused to open the door for me to let me in to the office in order to get it. I've told my vice president that if I can't get in the building for meetings, that I will sit in the parking lot. It was her and her husband who arranged for the new key system. It was supposed to be a new keying that would allow us to only have one key, specially keyed to let us into only the doors we had authority to open. The women's group actually raised the 6 grand to pay for it. No one told me it would include an electric system that would make the building nearly inaccessible for me. So we are going to have to transfer to another parish that is newer and more accessible. We were one of the top 5 financial contributers to the parish, not that it should matter, but it does seem strange to alienate us like this.
[/quote]
Can't you just ask the priest for a key? You're really going to leave the church because of what the secretary said?

[CatherineM]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1321238200' post='2335946']
catherine - I did pm you with my details then disabled the messenger again. I hope you got it. I included my email address.
[/quote]
I did and already passed it on to the shipping person.

[CatherineM]

I am not becoming a Mormon. I'm not about to share my husband with other wives.

As to asking the priest for a key, the key alone won't help. It's the security system. It has a keypad that is only on one door, and it is on the opposite side from the elevator door. This is an old church, almost 100 years, and the elevator is basically like a cargo lift that was added to the outside of the building. When you come in the front door, it is a flight of stairs up to the church or a flight of stairs down to the basement where the kitchen, classrooms, and parish hall are. I am not the only person who uses the elevator. I wonder how the ladies are going to get in for adoration or prayer groups without assistance.

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1321242158' post='2335996']
I did and already passed it on to the shipping person.
[/quote]

Thank you again. And I do hope your church solves this problem for you!

[Ed Normile]

Catherine, that rapidly inhales air for certain! I would suggest arming yourself and taking over the rectory and firing random shots off until the press arrives, then you can air your grievances out to a broad audience. Or, you could use your lawyerly tongue and hint at an obvious violation of the American disabilities act, and add that even you crazy canucks should have something close to that for me to cause you problems with.

Seriously though, that is a shame and needs to be addressed as I am sure you are probably not the only mobility impaired person who is or will be distressed over this. Good luck.

ed

[tinytherese]

[quote name='Ed Normile' timestamp='1321254004' post='2336079']
Or, you could use your lawyerly tongue and hint at an obvious violation of the American disabilities act, and add that even you crazy canucks should have something close to that for me to cause you problems with.

[/quote]

She lives in Canada. Is there a disabilities act there? This is crazy and uncompassionate of them.

[AnneLine]

Wow, Catherine, so sorry this is happening.

I'd talk to to Pastor as well.... and maybe check if there are any diocesan regs that would apply before I talked with him.

Maybe the pastor can have the door code changed on the rest of them and see how much THEY like standing in the cold? (No, I'm not serious, but it is a strong temptation....)

Sometimes the building really isn't accessible, but in this case it IS accessible (well more or less so) but it is the PEOPLE who are causing the problem. I get the security problems, but good grief! Refusal to let you in to get the key or accommodate your needs by giving the code to your husband? That is a different thing, I think, and perhaps that is an angle to use in approaching the PASTOR of the PEOPLE (which also includes you!)...

Hope that you don't have to do a parish change - that is so hard, and especially so if you have been a major contributor.

I'll be praying....

[CatherineM]

[quote name='Ed Normile' timestamp='1321254004' post='2336079']
Catherine, that rapidly inhales air for certain! I would suggest arming yourself and taking over the rectory and firing random shots off until the press arrives, then you can air your grievances out to a broad audience. Or, you could use your lawyerly tongue and hint at an obvious violation of the American disabilities act, and add that even you crazy canucks should have something close to that for me to cause you problems with.

Seriously though, that is a shame and needs to be addressed as I am sure you are probably not the only mobility impaired person who is or will be distressed over this. Good luck.

ed
[/quote]
That's a good idea in that our church is at the top of a hill, and the highest ground around, however, my husband made me leave my rifle in Florida. Shame really. I love showing off my marksmanship.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1321238032' post='2335944']
My husband put an empty envelope in the basket this week. He believes in voting with your wallet.
[/quote]

If you have a good priest, that won't make any difference, so I pray it doesn't.

[brandelynmarie]

I'm sorry this is happening to you & others.

Edited November 14, 2011 by brandelynmarie

[CatherineM]

Well, I discussed the issue with my friend on parish council. She wasn't at mass on Sunday because she had a gas leak in her house and was dealing with the gas company and waiting to blow up. She wanted to know if I had explained to Father that the new system would make the elevator inaccessible, and when I told her that it was announced at mass that the new system would make the elevator locked down, she was shocked. It's as if no one gave any real thought to the system before installing it, or simply didn't care.

It was supposedly done because of the neighborhood. We had a homeless guy go downstairs during mass and steal a tray of food that was to be for hospitality after mass. The new system won't of course prevent that from happening again since the doors to the stairs will be open for masses otherwise we'd be having mass in the parking lot. What this was really about was keeping parishioners out, not homeless. It's about control. The whole thing was pushed by a couple who not only profited financially from the purchase of the new system, but are also one of the few people who will have access to the church. Anyone who needs in for a funeral dinner or choir practice or even a prayer group will have to call them to come over to let us in. They are one of those frenetic couples who work 80 hours a week, and always show up late to meetings, so I'm expecting this to be a bit chaotic. I suspect the priests went along with it because pastors often depend heavily on those kinds of super couples in a parish, especially a small poor one that can't even afford a pastoral associate, and shares a secretary with another parish.

I am reminded of what my dad used to say about it being a shame that Jesus had to leave his perfect church in the hands of imperfect humans. We will be comfortable in our new parish. It's in a much newer building that was designed to be accessible. The important thing is being in the presence of the Lord. We'll miss our old friends, but will make new ones. That's the way life is at times.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1321301380' post='2336251']I am reminded of what my dad used to say about it being a shame that Jesus had to leave his perfect church in the hands of imperfect humans. We will be comfortable in our new parish. It's in a much newer building that was designed to be accessible. The important thing is being in the presence of the Lord. We'll miss our old friends, but will make new ones. That's the way life is at times.[/quote]
your new parish will be glad to have you; the old one will be missing you & your hubby's presence soon enough. i'm reminded of the saying, "The best revenge is a life well-lived" (or something like that)

[AnneLine]

Sounds as if you have found some peace, Catherine, and perhaps God has need of you in the new parish. A big loss for the old one, however....

Probably isn't an option because of the $$$ involved, but our parish finally paid for a security guard... we had the same inner city bad neighborhood issues. Security guard option keeps us safe, puts someone to work, and since the guy is Catholic HE gets to work 40 hours a week in the presence of the Lord! Talk about a nice working environment!!!

[CatherineM]

We just got a call from our associate pastor. He basically said that he had no idea there was a problem, and we had to tell him since he doesn't read minds. None of the people in charge of the changes had passed any information along. I guess I should have known they wouldn't even though we were all told to discuss issues with them. I just figured that since it was announced in mass that the elevator door wouldn't be accessible that they would know that was a problem without having to be told. I had to explain it to him three times before he truly understood the issue, and then once he did, he agreed that was going to be a problem, but couldn't figure out a way to fix it. I got the speech about the church being an old building and the parish being very poor as if I didn't know that already. He asked us to be patient while they tried to figure out a way to fix it. I also found out the $6000 the CWL raised to pay for the system was just a small part of the total expense. We are talking about three exterior doors, one elevator door, one rectory/office door, and the rectory garage doors. I should have gone into the locksmith or security business. Seriously.

I told him that it might just be cheaper for the parish, and easier for all sides if we just changed parishes so they didn't have to bother. That's when money came up. I was hoping it wouldn't. Austin was sure it would. We apparently donate about 10% of the total operating budget for the parish every month. If that's true, the parish is poorer than I thought. So basically, if we move parishes, they won't be able to pay the heat bill. I'm fairly certain that Catholic priests take classes in laying guilt trips. It's not in the seminary catalog, so it must be a private class that lay students can't take. Now I don't know what to do.