December 9, 2022

Archbishop Thompson issues decree regarding former church building

Criterion staff report

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson has decreed that the former St. Rose of Lima Church building in Knightstown be sold. In the terminology of the Church’s Code of Canon Law, this is referred to as “relegation to profane but not sordid use.”

This decision was made after Archbishop Thompson consulted with the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council in November. St. Rose of Lima Parish was merged with St. Anne Parish in New Castle in 2016. (Learn more here)

As noted in the decree published in this week’s issue of The Criterion, the decision concerning the St. Rose of Lima property was spurred by the fact that the church building is in disrepair; inspection of the building by an outside engineering firm found significant deterioration and water damage; additional water filtration has caused additional damage to the interior plaster, paint and basement; and the merged parish of St. Anne has no use for the building.

DECREE

Whereas, on 4 February 2016, by the decree of my predecessor, the Most Reverend Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the former parish of the Saint Rose of Lima (8144 US-40, Knightstown, IN 46148), was merged by extinctive union into the parish of Saint Anne (102 N. 19th St., New Castle, IN 47362); and,

Whereas the recourse filed against the decree of extinctive union was upheld by the competence dicastery; and,

Whereas the legal and equitable assets and liabilities of the former parish of Saint Rose of Lima were given over to the parish of Saint Anne by virtue of the extinctive union; and,

Whereas the pastor of the parish of Saint Anne discussed with the parishioners on the possibility of the reduction to profane but not sordid use of the church building of Saint Rose of Lima over the course of 2020-2022; and,

Whereas, on 8 November 2022, the pastor of the parish of Saint Anne, after consultation with both his finance and pastoral council (consisting of parishioners of Saint Anne and former parishioners of Saint Rose of Lima), petitioned me to relegate the church building of the former parish of Saint Rose of Lima to profane but not sordid use so that the proceeds of the sale of the church building might be used to fund the ministries of the parish of Saint Anne; and,

Whereas, on 22 November 2022, I consulted with the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council on the question of the relegation of the church building of

Saint Rose of Lima to profane but not sordid use; and,

Whereas, in the consideration of the question of reduction of the church building of Saint Rose of Lima, I evaluated the following facts concerning the state of the church building of Saint Rose of Lima:

  • The church building is not in good repair.
  • Inspection by an outside engineering firm in April of 2022 found significant deterioration and water damage to have occurred to the main structural system supporting the floor of the nave and sanctuary of the church building.
  • Additional water infiltration has caused additional damage to the interior plaster, paint, and basement.
  • Based upon the report of the engineering firm, a general contractor estimated in April 2022 that the repairs needed to make the building safely able to be occupied to be $174,399.
  • The income for Saint Anne in the fiscal year of 2021/2022 was $300,891; the expenses were $294,847.
  • The merged parish of Saint Anne has no use for this building.

And, whereas the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council voted unanimously to recommend that the church building of Saint Rose of Lima be relegated to profane but not sordid use; and,

Whereas I have concluded that the economic hardship of repairing the building and its lack of usefulness to the parish of Saint Anne constitute a grave cause sufficient in law to support the relegation of the church building to profane but not sordid use;

I, the Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson, D.D., J.C.L., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, having in mind my responsibility to best address the spiritual needs of the people of the parish of Saint Anne specifically and the needs of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis generally, hereby decree:

  1. The church building of the former parish of Saint Rose of Lima shall be relegated to profane but not sordid use fourteen days after the date of the promulgation of this decree.
  2. The parish of Saint Anne, in consultation with the Archdiocese of lndianapolis and permission of the College of Consultors and Archdiocesan Finance Council, shall utilize the church building (not excluding disposition) in a manner that is in accord with Catholic faith and morals, and with the building’s dignity as a former place of Divine worship.
  3. This decree is to be published to the pastor of the parish of Saint Anne.
  4. The parishioners of the parish of Saint Anne are to be given notice of this decree upon its receipt by the pastor of the parish. Copies of this decree are to be made available for inspection at the office of the parish, and the parishioners shall be given notice as soon as is possible after its receipt by the pastor.
  5. This decree is to be published in the Archdiocesan newspaper, The Criterion.
  6. This decree is to be posted to the website of the Archdiocese.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Archdiocese of lndianapolis on this 29th day of November, 2022.

Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson, D.D., J.C.L.
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Very Reverend Eric M. Johnson, VE
Vice Chancellor

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