Manitou Springs Church Won't Close In Near Future

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A 113-year-old church in Manitou Springs says it won't be closing any time in the near future.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs said last week that it was considering closing and selling Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in part because of parking problems caused by a nearby hiking trail.

The Rev. Ronald Raab told several dozen parishioners Sunday that it would take at least two to five years for the church to close even if the decision was made that day.

According to a Nov. 4 letter from Raab, decreased parking around the church has caused dwindling attendance at Sunday Mass. For the past two fiscal years, tithing and other income has not been enough to meet basic operating expenses.

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