St Georges hearing

ST GEORGES CHURCH

A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT JUDGE HAS DENIED THE INJUNCTION OF PARISHONERS OF THE FORMER ST GEORGE'S CHURCH, SHENANDOAH, WHO WERE SEEKING TO STOP DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING THAT ONCE HOUSED THE CONGREGATION. ABOUT 40 PEOPLE ATTENDED TODAY'S HEARING BEFORE JUDGE CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN. ATTORNEY PAUL DOMALAKES, REPRESENTING THE PARISHONERS ASKED TO HAVE THE DEMOLITION STOPPED BASED ON AN AGREEMENT THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND LITHUANIA, TO PRESERVE HISTORIC PLACES LIKE ST GEORGE'S, THE OLDEST LITHUANIAN PARISH IN THIS COUNTRY. LITHUANIAN AMBASSADOR AUDRIUS BRUZGA WAS ON STANDBY TO TESTIFY FROM WASHINGTON. THE PARISHONERS ALSO SAY THEY HAVE A STAKE IN THE CHURCH BECAUSE MONEY WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BUILDING FUND, EVEN AFTER IT WAS CLOSED IN 2006. ATTORNEY JOSEPH LEESON FOR THE DIOCESE ASKED TO HAVE THE CASE DISMISSED BASED ON CASE LAW THAT THE BISHOP HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH MATTERS OF PROPERTY. JUDGE DOLBIN STATED HE WASN’T EVEN SURE THAT THE COURT HAD JURISDICTION TO HEAR THE CASE, STATING THE PLAINTIFFS CASE WAS "THIN". HE ALLOWED DEPOSITION OF THE AMBASSADOR, AND ASKED FOR BRIEFS TO BE FILED ABOUT THE MONEY ISSUE. THE DIOCESE COULD PROCEED WITH DEMOLITION, BUT WILL CONSULT WITH ENGINEERS AND LAWYERS, WITH THE FINAL DECISION RESTING WITH BISHOP JOSEPH BARRES. A HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 1ST.