Catholic closure fear

THERE IS a new threat to Catholic churches of architectural value in inner cities according to a report from Save Britain's Heritage.
"Until recently, it seemed unlikely that Roman Catholic churches would be threatened with redundancy but a number in inner Liverpool now face closure." says the report, Deserted Sepulchres.
The pressure group's report implicitly criticises Catholic clergy who have given priority to social issues over the fabric of church buildings. St Francis Xavier's, Everton, it says "is now safe and is being repaired with the aid of Historic Buildings Council grants. It now only needs clergy who share the devotion of local people to the building which, unlike many Anglican churches, was built and enriched largely by the donations of the working class."
Catholic churches also lack the back-up given to Church of England buildings. "The complete absence of an equivalent to the Redundant Churches Fund for nonAnglican churches is an anomaly which urgently needs a remedy. At present, the preservation of such buildings demands the establishment of local trusts."
In Catholic churches: "historic interiors can be wrecked while still in use without listed buildings consent by virtue of "ecclesiastical exemption'."