Church member Robert Benamati was chosen by the group to write a letter to Rome outlining their discontent. Sister Mary Parks, spokeswoman for the diocese, defended the church consolidations. Although money will be saved by the church closings, that is not the main reason for consolidation, she said. A parishioner from Mount Carmel who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not believe the merger is necessary. He said theshortage of priests could be corrected by bringing in others from side the area.
People lose identity and become like furniture to the powers that be.
Like a thieves in the night After five years of deception and lies by leaders of the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese, our worst fears became reality. On May 27 around 4 p.m., destruction of our sanctuary began at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Northern Cambria. Two contractors from C.E. Wood of Altoona appeared out of nowhere. Alongside stood our parish priest, Rev. Gerard Comielly, TOR, looking on in approval. Gerard asked us to leave.