Fight to Save St. Ann’s Parish Heads to the Vatican

Canon law consultant Peter Borre could be one of the last hopes to save the now “extinct” Saint Ann’s parish in Bristol Borough.

Borre met with hundreds of Saint Ann supporters Wednesday evening inside Bristol’s Calvary Baptist Church on Green Lane. The Boston-based Navy veteran was greeted like a rock star at the informational meeting.

Borre told the gathered audience that he has hired two of the top Canon lawyers in Italy to represent the parishioners who want their church back. The father and daughter team are two of only a dozen lawyers that practice church law.

The consultant explained how the appeal to the Vatican worked. He said the process could take several years to work its way through. In response to an audience question, Borre said Saint Ann church could not be sold while it is under appeal.

He also outlined how the 48-page appeal would go to the Congregation of the Clergy at the Vatican. If they deny the appeal, the parishioners could go to the Vatican Supreme Court. Borre pointed out that Vatican Supreme Court is not very transparent and requires all filings in Latin.

“This may be the only shot, unless Archbishop Chaput wakes up with some new revelation,” he told the crowd.

Borre explained what Saint Ann experienced earlier this month an “extinction merger,” which means the Saint Ann’s identity was dropped when the church merged with nearby Saint Mark’s parish.

Archbishop Charles Chaput denied the first appeal, prepared by Philadelphia-based attorney Nino Tinari, last week. Bristol Borough Council President and lifelong Saint Ann’s member Ralph DiGuiseppe told the crowd the archbishop also denied an offer to the parish. Due to the detailed appeal submitted by Tinari, Borre said he was able to put together the appeal to the Vatican. DiGuiseppe also said the archbishop turned down meetings with Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley and major church backers.

DiGuiseppe asked people to continue to attend mass at the Saint Ann’s building every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Borre said large turnouts at the church should send a message to catholic leaders.

The men also talked about a rally that is being planned for late summer or early fall. The rally would involve buses taking groups of people looking to save Saint Ann’s parish down to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. There, the group would demonstrate and take part in a mass given by Chaput .

Since July 1, the church has transition to a new archdiocese “worship center,” which will hold baptisms, weddings and funerals. How long the archdiocese will keep Saint Ann’s as a worship center remains to be seen.

Borreis a type of hero in many Catholic circles. He has been successful in overturning 11 church closures out roughly 20 in Cleveland, Ohio. He has also worked in different parts of the country and Philadelphia to save parishes.

A bank account to help pay the costs of fighting to save the church has been set up at First Federal of Bucks County on Mill Street.