Locked Churches

[Miserissima]

It’s an unfortunate fact, particularly in the modern US, that most churches (Catholic and otherwise) have to locked when not in use.

About 15 years ago, a friend and I took a day to go “church hopping,” what we did on a day off was to check out the different ethnic and territorial parishes. We always said our prayers, were very respectful, and loved to “ooh” and “aah” at the different decor. For example, the Irish parish was patterned after Notre Dame, and the Canadian parish had many side shrines. It was as if we took a day to go to the National Basilica here in DC just to look and meditate.

Anyway, we went up to the steps of the Polish church when the priest came running out asking, “What do you kids want?!” Well, we weren’t kids…

The priest sternly brought us into his office and even photocopied our divers’ licenses after he asked to see them. It was totally bizarre. He took about an hour to “chat” with us after he figured out that we were harmless, but it was a waste of time since we really, really wanted to see inside the church.

I can see being proactive and protective, but I can’t see being rude or intentionally trying to make us feel guilty for not doing anything wrong. A simple, “I’m sorry, but we have to keep the doors locked during the day,” would have been sufficient.

 

[JPUSC]

About 15 years ago, a friend and I took a day to go “church hopping,” what we did on a day off was to check out the different ethnic and territorial parishes. We always said our prayers, were very respectful, and loved to “ooh” and “aah” at the different decor. For example, the Irish parish was patterned after Notre Dame, and the Canadian parish had many side shrines. It was as if we took a day to go to the National Basilica here in DC just to look and meditate.

Anyway, we went up to the steps of the Polish church when the priest came running out asking, “What do you kids want?!” Well, we weren’t kids…

The priest sternly brought us into his office and even photocopied our divers’ licenses after he asked to see them. It was totally bizarre. He took about an hour to “chat” with us after he figured out that we were harmless, but it was a waste of time since we really, really wanted to see inside the church.

I can see being proactive and protective, but I can’t see being rude or intentionally trying to make us feel guilty for not doing anything wrong. A simple, “I’m sorry, but we have to keep the doors locked during the day,” would have been sufficient.

Wow, what’s up with all these ethnic churches not welcoming people. :bigyikes:

 

[Middleman]

I think it’s a total bummer that some churches are locked, including my church. Unfortunately our priest doesn’t live in the rectory like the old priest used to. He likes to live his own life and we don’t have anyone around most of the time. A few people have keys, and the rest of us are out in the cold. It used to be that the church was open all the time. I could go pray and not have to be distracted by the usual bustle of parishioners coming and going.

When I go to big cities I’ll see the churches are open, yet I live in a small town and the church is locked. It’s a bummer.

 

[redrosetea]

I wasn’t sure where to post this, so I figured I’d put it in this forum.

Now my point:

Are churches in your areas locked during the day? If so, what do you think about it?

Yes. Fr once caught a disturbed lady setting bulletins on fire from the votive candles…The neighborhood and society has changed and they don’t dare keep them open now

 

[vidimusdominum]

I live in Singapore, a country known for low crime rates. As far as I know, all 33+ churches are open for prayer and quiet time. Even if the Nave is closed, a chapel or Adoration Room will be opened. I think pastors will only open up the churches if there is a steady stream of people in and out so as to ensure nothing unfortunate happens.

Having said this, just some weeks back, a monstrance was stolen from an Adoration Room in one of the churches. And in another church, the statue of Our Lady was defaced. Perhaps, Our Lord is calling us once more to '“spend an hour” with Him.

God bless.

 

[T700]

I live in Singapore, a country known for low crime rates. As far as I know, all 33+ churches are open for prayer and quiet time. Even if the Nave is closed, a chapel or Adoration Room will be opened. I think pastors will only open up the churches if there is a steady stream of people in and out so as to ensure nothing unfortunate happens.

Having said this, just some weeks back, a monstrance was stolen from an Adoration Room in one of the churches. And in another church, the statue of Our Lady was defaced. Perhaps, Our Lord is calling us once more to '“spend an hour” with Him.

God bless.

Well put. If the churches were filled with the faithful, there would be far less chance for criminal acts.

Paul

 

[weepixie71]

i find it sad that in any kind of neighborhood that church doors are locked. people need to pray in front of the tabernacle to receive graces to live good holy lives. i would think especially in poor neighborhoods where so much evil is seen on a regular basis.

i know times are bad in a lot of areas but there was a time not long ago where priests risked being arrested or killed to keep their church doors open. exp: world war II when nazi’s demanded priests to remove statues or anything else they saw as a threat. they risked death or imprisonment, and vandalism.

 

[Cider]

Are churches in your areas locked during the day? If so, what do you think about it?

The only Church that I know of in our area that is locked during the day is the Greek Orthodox one. Every Catholic parish I’ve been to during normal daytime and early evening hours has been open.

 

[Appleby]

Our churches are pretty much always locked except when services are going on. I have about 90 minutes between the time I leave work and daily Mass and even when it is snowing like mad and freezing cold, we have to sit outstide on the steps until 15 minutes before Mass starts when someone will let us in. The unfortunate truth is that we have hundreds of homeless people in Toronto and many of them are mentally disturbed and many others are drug addicts looking for something to steal and pawn … and since nobody under the age of 19 can be punished, we have roving mobs of kids who spray paint, smash and vandalize on a regular basis just because they can.

My college roommate lives in a small town in Texas and works part-time at two different churches. One of them has been broken into twice in the last month and the offices vandalized and all the computer equipment stolen. She thinks that people believe the church is “rich” …

 

[curtishouse29]

I wasn’t sure where to post this, so I figured I’d put it in this forum.

I went home today (30 minutes away) for an appointment. While in town, I wanted to go to a church I’d never been inside. My grandpa did the gold leaf on the steeple cross, so I’ve got a bit of an attachment. It’s in a neighborhood that was once working-class and is now pretty bad. It’s a beautiful old, early 20th century church in the middle of a poor neighborhood.

I tried to open the doors. Locked.

I went to the parish office to ask if I could go in, and they wouldn’t let me in!!

Apparently, a few years ago, they had problems with vagrants sleeping inside and the high altar was spray-painted.
I called the diocese office and apparently, all churches are locked during the day except during daily Mass and over the lunch hour.

I’m happy that they’re protecting the churches, but it’s disheartening that I couldn’t slip inside for 15 minutes and say a Rosary in silence.

Now my point:

Are churches in your areas locked during the day? If so, what do you think about it?

That IS disheartening to say the least. I really wouldn’t blame them if the church has been attacked in the past by vandals and others. I only go to one church but, to my knowledge, it is open every day and that is one of the many things that separates the Catholic church from the rest imo.

I just hope that those that have committed those acts can see the errors of their ways and eventually the doors will be unlocked full-time for those seeking God. May God bless you.

Curtis

 

[melinda_s]

my parish is locked during the day as we have a vandal problem too but the cathedral across town is open during business hours

 

[MikeDunphy]

My church is usually open during the day, locked at night. It used to be open all the time until we had a problem with theft.

I’ve visited a couple churches that were locked up with a metal grille that at least allowed visitors to still see the sanctuary and tabernacle.

 

[ihm1993]

Yes I hate that this has to be done. I love old churches and sometimes when I go downtown I want to s=be alone in there just 15 minutes and say my rosary but they r always locked. I wish it was like the old days when churches were open 24/7.

 

[Appleby]

Yes I hate that this has to be done. I love old churches and sometimes when I go downtown I want to s=be alone in there just 15 minutes and say my rosary but they r always locked. I wish it was like the old days when churches were open 24/7.

I wish it was like the old days when criminal behaviour was punished,not understood and vandals, muggers and thieves did hard time and were scorned by society instead of called Victims of Exclusion and given hugs and basketballs. I wish it was like the old days when the criminals were locked up and the good people roamed free.

 

[adelore]

While down to visit our Daughter in the Valley in Texas, she took us to a very large Catholic Church. It was open during the day and every room was open as well. It was a beatiful church and much to see in it. We even visited the “Candle Room” (which is the biggest one I had ever seen) and lite our candles and said our prayers. It was great that this Catholic Church was open, what an experience we would have missed if it had been locked.

 

[Middleman]

I wish it was like the old days when criminal behaviour was punished,not understood and vandals, muggers and thieves did hard time and were scorned by society instead of called Victims of Exclusion and given hugs and basketballs. I wish it was like the old days when the criminals were locked up and the good people roamed free.

Amen.