The answers or opinions given have only the force of the author's scholarship and are intended for the purpose of informing our readers. The U.S. Constitution raises no obstacle to the efforts of cities and towns to preserve church buildings by designating them as historic landmarks. More than 100 St. Edmund parishioners nominated their church as a local historic landmark.
Oak Park has a two-step process.
First, the Historic Preservation Commission decides whether the building has historic or artistic value. Second, if the Commission decides that the building has such value, then the case proceeds to the Village Board of Trustees, which votes on whether or not to accept the Commission's recommendation. The parishioners in favor of preservation asked the St. Joseph Foundation to represent them in the first part of the process, the hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission. That hearing took place on May 13 and attracted approximately 150 persons. Michael Dunnigan, Counsel to the St. Joseph Foundation, delivered the closing argument on behalf of the parishioners seeking preservation.