The Diocese of Niagara’s self-proclaimed mission is to be a champion of social justice.\u00a0 By its actions, it is not only doing a magnificent job of concealing that but it is managing to convey the impression that the church really just wants your money.<\/p>\n
From here<\/a>:<\/p>\n The Anglican Church of Canada Niagara Diocese has inadvertently confirmed a perspective many have about churches: they’re only out for money.<\/p>\n The diocese turned down offers from two local congregations (one for $1.2 million, the other for $800,000), who would have maintained the St. Matthias Church property’s institutional and community use.<\/p>\n Instead it accepted a $2-million bid from HIP Developments whose proposed student housing project has met with resounding opposition from the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n Contrast that to the Sisters of St. Joseph, a dwindling community of nuns in the Steeles and Bayview Avenues area of Toronto. (Pope John Paul II visited this convent while in Toronto for the World Youth Day celebration in 2002.) Developers offered the sisters $75 million for the 23 hectares of prime real estate. Instead, the nuns accepted a $58-million offer from the neighbouring Tyndale University College, who pledged to maintain many of the convent’s unique characteristics, including an incredible chapel and an outdoor Stations of the Cross.<\/p>\n The response from the diocese’s head, Bishop Michael Bird hasn’t helped matters: “Going forward, our ministry \u2014 both with the re-envisioned St. Matthias community and all our area parishes \u2014 will continue to further God’s loving purposes throughout the Royal City.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Diocese of Niagara’s self-proclaimed mission is to be a champion of social justice.\u00a0 By its actions, it is not only doing a magnificent job of concealing that but it is managing to convey the impression that the church really … Continue reading