Catholics appeal Dubuque Archdiocese restructuring plan to Vatican

Catholics from several parishes across the Archdiocese of Dubuque say they have appealed to the Vatican over the archdiocese's sweeping parish restructuring plan, arguing it weakens parish governance and could accelerate the loss of local Catholic communities.

The group announced Friday 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.

The concerns stem from the archdiocese's April 11 restructuring plan, which reorganizes about 160 parishes into 24 pastorates. According to the group, the changes will leave 84 churches without a regular weekend Mass beginning July 14.

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 appellants argue 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.

The restructuring process has included assistance from the Catholic Leadership Institute. The group filing the appeal argues that church consolidations and closures can lead parishioners to leave the church rather than join another parish, citing comments from the institute's leadership.

The appellants say parishes representing roughly 20% of the archdiocese joined the appeal and are seeking intervention from the Vatican before the restructuring takes full effect.