When churches close their doors, who controls the building? A growing number of local governments, concerned with architectural beauty and community tradition, are applying landmark status to church structures. Religion News Service explores the controversy this is creating in the Catholic church after the Springfield, MA diocese filed suit in January to stop the designation.
Designating church buildings as landmarks over the objection of church leaders is "a serious threat to our ability to control church buildings, including very clear religious symbols—a control which protects our religious freedom and expression," diocesan spokesman Mark Dupont said in a statement.
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The legal dispute represents a new wrinkle in traditional church-state disputes. The designation for Our Lady of Hope includes statues and crosses—and the government has no right telling churches what to do with such religious items, Dupont said.
