Catholics from several parishes across the Archdiocese of Dubuque say they have appealed to the Vatican over the archdiocese's Journey in Faith restructuring plan. A press release from the group Save Our Churches, Save Our Communities states that it has filed an appeal with the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome after they say earlier appeals to Archbishop Thomas Zinkula received no response. Those challenging the plan say a related decree affecting parish governance received far less public attention than the restructuring announcement but could have significant long-term effects on parish leadership and decision-making. The group argues in their appeal that the decree conflicts with canon law by shifting pastoral leadership to the pastorate level, centralizing decisions about weekend Mass schedules and church buildings, and creating a pastorate-level finance structure they believe could undermine the role of individual parish finance councils. Save Our Churches, Save Our Communities argues that church consolidations and closures can lead parishioners to leave the church rather than join another parish. The group says parishes representing roughly 20% of the archdiocese joined the appeal and are seeking intervention from the Vatican before the restructuring takes full effect.
