” ‘The church closings(Holy Rosary and Most Precious Blood) are part of a national trend of Catholics moving from the cities to the suburbs, resulting in declining attendance at city churches’, said Doug Mandelaro, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.” From this morning’s D&C.

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28, 19-20.

I don’t recall Jesus telling His disciples not to evangelize and baptize in urban areas. Does the diocese have a special rule that says that Catholicism is only for suburban people? And if all the Catholics have moved to the suburbs then why are so many suburban parishes clustering? Is the Catholic population in Rochester now relocating to rural areas?

If current trends continue, then the diocese will cease to exist in about 50 years. Thankfully, current trends will not continue.