Czech church sells properties to cope with dropping attendance

Published: 2006-08-29

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- The Czech Catholic Church has begun selling its properties at low prices to cope with plummeting church donations and membership. "The reason is simple -- we just don't have the money to maintain them," said Martin Horalek, spokesman for the Prague-based bishops' conference. "Some priests are spending most of their time on the upkeep of their churches when they should be providing pastoral care for the faithful." In an Aug. 24 interview with Catholic News Service, Horalek said property sales by the country's eight dioceses had been approved at the church's synod in 2005. However, he said church officials hoped local municipalities would still allow occasional use of the churches for Mass. "Village and town councils can receive state funds to renovate or rebuild them," said Horalek. "The situation differs in each diocese, however, so individual bishops must decide how many should be handed to the municipality or sold to private owners."

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