BY JULIE IRWIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MORROW -- About 100 people upset about renovations at St. Philip Catholic Church met at the VFW Hall on Wednesday night to discuss ways of protesting.
The group prayed, discussed canon law and signed petitions to the Most Rev. Daniel E. Pilarczyk, archbishop of Cincinnati, asking him to stop the work. They also discussed withholding contributions to the church.
At least four members of St. Philip's parish council oppose the work scheduled to begin at their church in mid-October. The project, expected to cost just under $1 million, would surround a lowered altar on four sides with upholstered chairs and move the tabernacle to a side chapel.
The brick church is now configured in a traditional rectangular pattern, with two long rows of pews, and a tabernacle and crucifix behind a raised altar.
"I don't want to see St. Philips become one of those gathering places that everyone comes to to make friends and while they're there they'll attend Mass," said Carvel Steineke, a parish council member.
"It's probably too late to stop the renovation itself, but maybe we can stop the destruction of the interior of our church. And if that doesn't work, maybe we can help the next church."
The pastor of St. Philip, the Rev. J.C. Allison, did not attend. The church has a membership of 520 families, and all received a mailer announcing the meeting.
Many of the people in attendance were members of the parish. Others belong to different churches but are upset about the issue of renovations.
"Sixty-six percent of American Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence," said Casey Mitchell, owner of Emmaus Catholic Bookstore is Mason, who is a not a member of St. Philips. "Is removing the tabernacle from a prominent place in the church the correct response to the serious problem, or are we accomplishing adherence to the old adage "Out of sight, out of mind'?"
The church has raised more than $600,000 to support the work, exceeding its fund-raising goal of $575,000. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Office of Worship has approved the plans.
