C.J. Doyle: Diocese needs to relieve suffering of Laconia parishioners

To The Daily Sun,

The Saint Joseph Church Preservation Society should be commended for its valiant efforts to save their church from demolition by the Diocese of Manchester, (Group sends Father Drouin letter urging lifting of church demolition permit, August 20).

It was poignant to read their invocation of "the legacy of those departed who sacrificed for the construction and upkeep of the church..."

Catholics have a right to defend the patrimony of their faith and the heritage of their community, memorialized, in this case, in the stone, stained glass and sacred memories of Saint Joseph's. The Canon Law of the Catholic Church specifically recognizes the right of the faithful to make known their needs and manifest their opinions to their pastors.

The Diocese of Manchester can relieve the suffering of these parishioners by responding promptly, explicitly and affirmatively to their just call for the revocation of the demolition permit.

C. J. Doyle

Friends of Saint Benedict Center

Manchester