Chicago, San Francisco churches face battles over landmark status

Published: 2005-05-25

CHICAGO (CNS) -- Religious leaders of various denominations have joined in a campaign to oppose changes to Chicago's law on landmarks that would allow the city to designate houses of worship as landmarks without the consent of their owners. "We feel it's an inappropriate intrusion into religious decision-making," said the Rev. Paul Rutgers, executive director of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. "It basically puts a control on both the present and future of any property so designated." Meanwhile, in San Francisco, a bill giving the city significant control over the property of the former St. Brigid Church -- countermanding state and federal court rulings -- has passed the California Senate and awaits action in the state Assembly. The church was closed 11 years ago and is owned by the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

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