Beacon article features St. John protesters

St. John the Baptist Parish was featured in a story and photo today on the cover of the Community Section of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The photo showed about 25 parishioners gathered Wednesday in front of the church at 1034 Brown St. to protest the closing and announce they have joined a group of 12 soon-to-be-closed churches called ''Endangered Catholics'' to fight the edict.

''We feel only as a group might we be able to save ourselves,'' said Nancy McGrath of Akron, a member of St. Peter's Church in Cleveland, also one of the parishes on the chopping block.

St. John parishioners have been told they are to merge with Annunciation, 87 Broad St., by Oct. 31.

Protesters noted three main reasons the church should remain open — not the least of which is the $2.3 million the parish has in the bank through a church-sponsored bingo operation and careful financial practices by the retired Rev. Ralph Coletta. Other reasons were ample parking is available and the church is in good condition.

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