Archbishop says building near cathedral threatens its survival

Published: 2006-06-29

BUCHAREST, Romania (CNS) -- The largest Roman Catholic edifice in Romania, St. Joseph Cathedral, is being threatened by an 18-story office building with four underground levels, said Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucharest and several technical experts. The building is being constructed to stand about 26 feet from the 122-year-old cathedral. Despite intense opposition from Romania's estimated 2-million-member Roman Catholic community, daily prayer vigils and support from the Orthodox Church, construction by Millennium SRL -- a local firm representing American investors -- has continued at a frantic pace since April. The building is designed by New York-based Westfourth Architecture. "They drilled on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, shaking the church so violently that many parishioners left in fear. They work day and night, endangering our beloved church," Archbishop Robu said in late June.

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