Abandoned churches

This is so sad.
All of the love that went into designing and building these churches and the love that was felt by their congregations counted for nothing. A sign of Godless times.
Roger

Sad indeed, Roger. What happened for their congregations to abandon them in the first place? One of them, at least, was a Roman Catholic church (maybe more). Why did Rome not supported it when, for whatever reason, doing it became necessary? You picqued my curiosity and this is what I found: It was the 'Year of Hell' that befell on it and in general, on North Philadelphia. A summary here:


"A corollary to the North Philadelphia Swath of Destruction, the Year of Hell refers to 1993, when most of those parishes were closed or consolidated. It’s a dark year, marking the Archdiocese’s final, grim declaration that many churches, and by connection their neighborhoods, were fruitless lost causes. A sad year for church enthusiasts everywhere..."

What happened?

"The real question would be, what hasn’t happened? Fairhill’s story is, on the surface, not much different than other depressed parts of Philadelphia. Industrial neighborhood thrives. After WWII, industry moves away. Factories close. Property values plummet. Families move away. What’s left starts to rot. Play it again, Sam."

And:

Miguel,
It is so very sad.
Philadelphia has huge community and poverty problems. The decline of a community is often worse than a community that has a long-term poverty problem.
As things deteriorate and work becomes scarce the despondency and sense of hopelessness grows. The tougher element turns to crime which increases in seriousness.
Only the hardened thugs really thrive and at the expense of all of the general public.
So very sad.
Parts of the USA are very scary places to live. So sad in a country that prides itself on freedom of opportunity.
Roger