The Renovation Manipulation

Renovation of Catholic churches is an issue that has been tearing apart parishes for 35 years. Communion rails have been ripped out, tabernacles hidden, kneelers removed, pews replaced by portable chairs, statues sold to antique dealers, and priceless works of art lost. Are these costly renovations really necessary, many wonder? The man in the pew instinctively resists the modernist design proposals, yet professional church renovators continue their attack in countless parishes across the continent. The Renovation Manipulation exposes the blueprint used by these highly-paid professionals to engineer unnecessary renovations. You'll learn about:- The Protestant roots of modern Catholic church architecture- The "re-education" process used to manipulate parishioners into accepting major changes to their church building- The hallmarks of deceitful renovation schemes, including fabricating the requirements of Church law and Vatican II, false-advertising fund drives, and lame-duck parish committees- How to respond to propaganda about: placement of the tabernacle, statues, and baptismal font; pews vs. chairs; removing the crucifix, communion rails, and kneelers; church "in-the-round"; and moreThis convenient handbook, designed in an easy-to-use reference format, provides parishioners with the necessary knowledge and Church teaching to challenge the prevailing fads and opinions in liturgical design and architecture.Review"Michael S. Rose has written more than a warning about the physically and spiritually destructive process that often results from Catholic church renovations. He has provided priests and parishioners with armor to resist a calculated and misguided onslaught of what he terms the archi-liturgical establishment. Roses handbook should be required reading for all parish building committees; it will not be found on recommendation lists of liturgical consultants!" -- Thomas Gordon Smith, University of Notre Dame School of Architecture"Well-documented, The Renovation Manipulation is an excellent resource for Catholics struggling with renovators who want to change their parish churches. In examining the problems that occur when renovations are undertaken without a true consensus among parishioners, Michael S. Rose has done a service in delineating the problem and providing resource and information to counter the elitists who want to change the look of churches as a means of changing the Church herself." -- William Donohue, Catholic League for Religious and Civil RightsAt the beginning of the third millennium, there is much to reflect on concerning the rich architectural heritage of the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, attacks against these sermons in stone continue by some who lack vision and appreciation of the past. Michael Rose's new book lays bare the intentions of these modern iconoclasts and brings to light the Church's consistent teaching on the importance of preservation of Catholic art and architecture. His recommendations for defending the churches built by our grandparents are practical and steeped in experience. I highly recommend it to every church preservation committee. -- Duncan Stroik, editor, Sacred Architecture JournalFrom the AuthorFor the past four years in my work as editor of St. Catherine Review I have spent considerable time reporting on church renovation disputes, showing exactly how "divisive" the proposals for, and results of, these renovations are. Many post-Vatican II renovations, allegedly predicated on the desirability of building "community" in liturgical worship and parish life, have produced the opposite effect: disunity, discord and alienation sometimes leading to an abandonment of the faith