Community fills Cine-Teatro Ópera against church preservation in Ponta Grossa

The overthrow of the churches in Ponta Grossa mobilized hundreds of faithful and members of the Catholic community on Tuesday night (13), at Cine-Teatro Ópera. The public attended the public meeting to express a position against the process involving six Catholic temples in the municipality.

The mobilization takes place after the Diocese of Ponta Grossa has made public its position contrary to the procedures of overturning in the conditions presented. The official demonstration was released on Saturday (10) and signed by the diocesan bishop, Dom Bruno Elizeu Versari.

The process involves the Cathedral of St. Anne, the Church of St. Sebastian, the Church of the Rosary Nossa Senhora, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church of the Lord São José and the Church of the Lord Bom Jesus, located in the Santa Cruz Farm.

Diocese recognizes historical importance

Despite standing against the overthrow of the way it is being conducted, the Diocese affirms to recognize the historical, religious, artistic, architectural and cultural value of the temples.

According to the institution, the churches have been preserved for decades by the Catholic Church itself and by parish communities, which carry out permanent maintenance and conservation work with their own resources.

The Diocese further argues that, based on the information submitted so far, the need for adoption of the proposed overturning would not be sufficiently demonstrated.

Another point raised is the possibility of the overturning producing legal effects and future restrictions on real estate.

In the assessment of the Diocese, any decision involving the temples should be accompanied by technical justification, proven necessity and individualized analysis of each church.

Community participates in the discussion

The expressive presence of the faithful at Cine-Teatro Ópera on Tuesday reinforced the mobilization of religious communities in the face of the overthrow of churches in Ponta Grossa.

The Diocese had previously called Catholics to participate in the public meeting, advocating a peaceful and responsible demonstration during the debate.

In the positioning previously disclosed, Dom Bruno also highlighted that the properties do not represent only architectural or historical heritage. For the Church, temples are spaces for worship, celebrations and religious activities continuously maintained by the communities.

For this reason, the Diocese maintains that any intervention on real estate must also consider religious freedom and the autonomy of the communities responsible for the temples.

Debate must have new unfoldings

The discussion about the overthrow of the six churches gained greater repercussions after the positioning of the diocese and the mobilization registered on Tuesday.

The public meeting represents another stage of the debate on the preservation of real estate and the impacts that the overthrow can bring to the administration and functioning of the temples.

The Portal BnT Online follows the meeting at Cine-Teatro Ópera and the upcoming developments related to the process of the overthrow of the Catholic churches of Ponta Grossa.

 

See also: Bishop of Ponta Grossa protests against church toppling