Thursday, October 28, 1999
Cathedral repair cost questioned
100 turn out to hear proposals
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Architectural consultant Bill Brown tossed out a challenge Wednesday night when he invited a crowd of at least 100 to speak to the multimillion-dollar cleaning, restoration and renovation planned for the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.
At a public hearing that lasted almost two hours, he told them to be honest yet to raise their voices in love — not anger — when sharing their feelings about the revamping that the Diocese of Covington sees in the church's future.
Mr. Brown learned how tough his challenge was when many questioned the cost of the project and what it would entail.
“We're going backwards. It's a bad idea,” said Jim Turton, an Independence resident who worships at St. Cecilia Church, Independence.
$10 million campaign
Mr. Turton spoke after Mr. Brown presented a handful of renovation proposals that could move the baptistery near the entrance and move the main altar toward the pews. Also proposed: cleaning the floors, walls, ceilings and stained glass windows.
In August, the diocese announced plans to pursue a $10 million fund-raising campaign and to use $4.7 million toward preservation and restoration of the cathedral. Cleaning the windows alone could cost about $1 million.
The Gothic-style cathedral, at 1140 Madison Ave., is fashioned after Notre Dame in Paris. It attracts about 70,000 visitors a year and is known as the home church for the diocese.
Like others in the crowd, Mr. Turton acknowledged the church's splendor but admitted to being bothered by the amount of money needed.
“I see no need for” some renovations, he said.
For many, the possibility of moving the main altar was a sore point. But Bishop Robert Muench, who heads the Diocese of Covington, urged them to consider that the green marble structure's main purpose these days is for the placement of candles and flowers.
Altar placement
The marble altar was used when priests said Mass with their backs to parishioners. A table has been used since the mid-1960s, when priests began facing parishioners.
Additional hearings are planned through January, when a committee is expected to submit final recommendations for the bishop's approval.
The next meetings are scheduled 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Howard Hall, 25 E. 11th St.
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