Downtown parishes are always, always, confronted with interesting challenges which mirror the realities, usually often times harsh ones, of the world. The solutions to these challenges are always, it seems, ones which manifest themselves after much creative thought, prayer, conversation, and cooperation. We all agreed quickly that this enterprise was not anywhere on our list of the top 10,000 or so businesses we would like to see on one of the four points of one of the busiest corners in our whole community. A letter would be drafted to be sent to the mayor and those who desire from the parish would be given the opportunity to sign it. They, too, are very unhappy about the bookstore, but the current city zoning laws make no provisions which exclude this business from obtaining the necessary licenses, permits, etc., so such documents could not be refused.
Work is now underway to draft such an ordinance.
That discovery process as regards the creative approach is underway. In the mean time, step 2 will be available for your signing on Sunday morning. Please make every effort to come to church, read the letter, and sign if you are so inclined sign it. There is also a step 3. Do please pray that the love of God will draw together all the right people for all the right reasons to see that the ground which God so wonderfully created can be put to a worthy use.