Private Property

[CyrilSebastian]

Today on Saturday a nonCatholic drove his car to the property of a Byzantine Catholic church. There was a huge Cross of Christ that the public can view. However he came upon a sign that stated PRIVATE PROPERTY.
He immediately left.
Why would a church, let alone a Catholic church, have such a sign?

 

[pianistclare]

People begging soliciting, and trespassing.
The Church cannot accept liability fro people who are up to no good.
Plus, if you had small children playing there, you wouldn’t want just anyone coming and wandering around.
There’s a difference between coming in because you want to pray or express curiosity, and simply being somewhere where you don’t have a legit reason to be there. I often work at the parish late at night alone…I won’t even go outside to my own car if there is a strange car in the parking lot.

 

[Jestersage]

Because the diocese own it as a non profit? It’s not owned by government right? It want to protect itself, such as the “no trespassing” sign, right?

I would bet any religious entity, from Protestant to Anglican to Buddhist to Muslim to even the Flying Spaghetti - or any non profits for that matter, having a property on a jurisdiction that have onus laws regarding lawsuits, will have similar signs.

Lawyers make everything sucks.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There are often legal requirements that private property have a sign posted designating it as such, or else trespassers can’t be removed and prosecuted. The church may have a problem with people loitering on the grounds, or leaving cars in the parking area and then going somewhere other than the church.

Pretty much all churches are private property. They just may not bother posting a sign if they haven’t had problems with trespassers or loiterers or unauthorized parkers, etc.

 

[Crusaderbear]

There is a world of difference between private property and no trespassing…your friend could have gone inside and asked!

 

[GEddie]

Why doesn’t a Church have the same rights as anybody else?

 

[SyroMalankara]

Today on Saturday a nonCatholic drove his car to the property of a Byzantine Catholic church. There was a huge Cross of Christ that the public can view. However he came upon a sign that stated PRIVATE PROPERTY.
He immediately left.
Why would a church, let alone a Catholic church, have such a sign?

Because the Catholic Church is not owned by the public, paid for by the Government with taxpayer funds. This means, if Joe IhatetheChurch decided to BBQ right next to where the Divine Liturgy was taking place, the ushers could politely ask him to leave or be cited for trespass. Whereas, in a public park, such a request could be ignored without repercussion.