While Vince Quackenbush's letter ("Diocese ruined church, not Price Chopper," May 25) correctly stated that churches are largely single-use structures and are difficult to repurpose, it also made some "unexamined and dubious assertions," words he used to question points in an earlier letter.
For example, he mentioned the "monied interests" of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and then stated that the diocese had abandoned Watervliet. The diocese had no "monied interest" or role in the closing of St. Patrick's Church. The decision to consolidate the worship services of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish into one church building, the former Immaculate Conception Church, and thus not use St. Patrick's Church, was made by the Parish Building Committee of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
That decision was made because of the expenses associated with maintaining the building, excessive capacity and structural problems of St. Patrick's Church. Watervliet has shrunk in size, as have most cities in the Northeast, and those who live here now do not attend religious services as in former years. In essence, they are the ones who abandoned St. Patrick's. Also, the money from the sale of St. Patrick's did not go to the diocese but remains within the parish, as is diocesan policy.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany has not abandoned Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. On the contrary, it has been extremely supportive over the years as we consolidated into one parish with one worship site.
Rev. L. Edward Deimeke
pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Watervliet/Green Island