re: #58 CuriousLurker

Some more background on the Syracuse church closing and converting to a mosque:

“…The closing is part of reconfiguration plans being undertaken by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse to address declines in the number of priests and the shifting of population from the cities to the suburbs, diocesan officials said. In 2007, officials announced changes that would ultimately close 40 churches in the seven-county diocese. At least 15 buildings have been closed since spring 2007. Bishop Cunningham has said the church building is underused and the cost of maintaining the structure has limited the parish’s ability to meet the neighborhood’s needs.”
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/holy_trinity_church_in_syracus.html

“…Soule has felt the pull of religion from both sides. As Catholics who had prayed in the church for decades struggled with the idea of removing the crosses, Muslims who wanted to worship there felt funny coming to pray at a building that still had crosses on top, Soule said. But they did for nearly a year, with the crosses on the top and the sign for Holy Trinity Church still outside.

The need for a mosque in the neighborhood is so great that people came anyway. Khadija Abdul Kadir’s family are refugees who came to Syracuse from Somalia. Before the Park Street mosque opened its doors, they had to walk miles or take a bus to get to another mosque. Now, it’s a few minutes walk for their daily prayers.”
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/08/from_church_to_mosque_syracuse_islamic_group_cuts_crosses_tries_to_connect_to_ne.html