Former parishioners respond to Rome's ruling

Former congregation members of Corpus Christi and St.
Rita respond to the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome:

In a January 18, 2012 media release, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie announced that they have received a response from the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome concerning the appeal against the closure and sale of the former churches of Corpus Christi and St. Rita in North Bay.

According to their release, the Congregation has not accepted the recourse.

We the applicants have the right to appeal these decisions to the highest court of the Roman Catholic Church, the Apostolic Signatura.

“The appellants from Corpus Christi and St. Rita’s parishes intend, subject to a thorough review of the decree and consulting with our advocates, to pursue an appeal of these decisions,” said Phillip Penna, former chair of the Corpus Christi Parish Pastoral Council and
one of five appellants from the former Corpus Christi parish.

According to the norms of Church law, the appellants have 60 days to make their appeals.

The 60 day period begins when official correspondence from the Congregation for the Clergyhas been received by the appellants, which has not yet happened.

Furthermore, The Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie must not pursue the sale of St. Rita’s church or utilize the monies accrued from the sale of Corpus Christi church for to do so would be to violate the appellant’s rights and compromise the integrity of this legal process.