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“We will be losing an
important part of our history,” said Kapszukiewicz, who
spoke of his own connection to the church and parish on his
mother’s side.
Now, of course, the
community is primarily African-American and non-Catholic.
The Junction Coalition and the Padua Center – which sits
adjacent to the church – are working to revive the area.
Finkbeiner called the Junction Coalition under Alicia
Smith’s leadership, “the most vibrant community coalition in
Toledo.”
“We are here about
history, the present, and definitely, the future,” said
Hicks-Hudson. “Things are happening today in this
neighborhood. We have tried to have conversations about the
use of this building – all has fallen on deaf ears. All we
are asking for is time to evaluate the building.”
The demolition is being
handled by I.J. Irving & Son’s Demolition of Napoleon, a
firm that Enright disparaged during his remarks as being
frequently unfair to its workers and untimely in meeting its
financial obligations. The diocese is donating the land to
the Padua Center. Demolition can start any day now.
Also present to support
the movement to stop the demolition were Councilmen Larry
Sykes, Sandy Spang, Gary Johnson and Cecelia Adams, PhD;
Lucas County Treasurer Lindsay Webb and assorted clergy
including Revs Cedric Brock and James Willis.
The neighbors would prefer
to see the church remain as part of the community, remodeled
and serving as a community center. Councilwoman Yvonne
Harper, in whose district St. Anthony sits, has said the
building could be converted to a farmers’ market, a place
for children and a meeting place. The community’s pleas have
been ignored by the diocese.
Especially irked by the
diocese’s unresponsiveness was Escobar, who was a member of
St. Anthony’s congregation in his youth and a student at the
school. The former altar boy urged concerned citizens to
contact Pope Francis directly and express their displeasure
of the diocesan actions. “The bishop is not listening to the
people,” said Escobar, a former Catholic priest. “The people
need to be heard.”
On Sunday, the City of
Toledo issued a stop work order citing a problem with the
demolition permit. Once the necessary paperwork has been
completed, the demolition can go forward, said a city
spokesman.
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