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Archiver > CASANFRA > 2004-12 > 1102798377


From: "Sue Silver" <>
Subject: Re: [CASANFRA] Holy Cross removals - update
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 12:52:57 -0800
References: <000801c4dfb8$897d8e20$d12664d8@ibmt7pnkmvabkv>


Sue and all,

For some unknown reason, the Catholic Church throughout California has a
dismal history in its treatment of its consecrated cemeteries. It seems
that when the parishes decreased in membership, the Church just closed their
doors and went away.

In Clinton, Amador Co., the church building itself remained until sometime
last year when it was moved to the Kennedy mine. It is my opinion they did
this so they could remove the few graves there and resell the lot for
profit. I have not heard that this has yet happened or if it will happen at
all. At this point, with what I know about the Church on other cemeteries
in the state, I wouldn't put it past them to remove on the grave stones and
ornamentation, deconsecrate the ground and walk away again.

I do not wish this message to be interpreted as Catholic bashing. It is not
intended as such. I merely relate FACTS as I know them or have researched
them. I have been trying to pull together some of the cases of which I'm
aware to post on my website, but I just have never gotten the time.

It is just so sad that one cannot even depend on the Catholic Church to
honor its commitment as "taking care of you in death as it does in life."
Sorry, folks, but that is the language the Church began using a few years
ago to try to increase plot sales in its northern California area
cemeteries.

The FACT is, if they are true to their history, no one buried today in a
Catholic cemetery will be safe in another 75 to 100 years.

Sue Silver, State Coordinator
California Saving Graves
----- Original Message -----
From: "S. F. O'Donnell" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 11:35 AM
Subject: [CASANFRA] Holy Cross removals - update


> To all that might be interested:
>
> I was somewhat confused by what Holy Cross told me and decided to contact
them yesterday re: the removal(s) of my two nephews that died shortly after
birth in the late 1890s. I was told they were buried with my great great
grandmother Catherine O'Donnell (nee Donovan) from Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
(1840-1885).
>
> I know that these two infants are buried with John T. O'Donnell at the
plot I mentioned in prior postings as I have spent several years researching
it being it is so complex and there as so many buried at this plot,
including the two nephews and also another female child that was born to
John T. and Annie J. O'Donnell (they had 5 children and 2 of the 5 lived).
>
> When I told Holy Cross about this, they at first argued this point with
me, sticking to their "facts" that my nephews were buried with Catherine. I
told them I knew they were buried with John T. O'Donnell and his wife, etc.
at the plot and I gave them the plot #'s etc.
>
> After this, I asked again for more info. re: Catherine and her whereabouts
at Holy Cross. I was then informed that Catherine is in a mass grave there
(!!!!!).
>
> This really ruined my day to say the very least (its giving me
nightmares!). I got pretty angry and told Holy Cross that there were plenty
of living relatives in SF at the time of the removals. They offered no
explanation naturally enough (how could they) as to why this mass grave
"disposal" as I think of it as being was allowed to occur.
>
> The call ended with me saying, "Well this definitely clinches the case
against being buried in my book" which I don't think went over so hot but
hey, I really don't care.
>
> In the meantime, my findings that I presented to Holy Cross re: my two
late nephews made them decide to look some more re: the removals and
Catherine's status as being buried in a mass grave.
>
> I cannot begin to tell anyone on this list how deeply hurt I am by this.
In fact, I told the person at Holy Cross that if any of these people were
still alive today, I'd slap them in the face for not dealing with my great
great grandmother properly as she came to America during the famine in
Ireland and she surely deserved more than being dumped in a mass grave,
unnamed, faceless, non-existent for all practical purposes.
>
> I find this so disgusting. To think our ancestors were treated in such a
manner thanks to the greed of a bunch of real estate mongers around the turn
of the century is loathsome and unforgivable. I can only wonder how long it
will be before Holy Cross becomes the next "target" for new real estate
development in the Bay Area. While it may never happen in my lifetime, I
have no doubt that it will happen sometime in the future as the Catholic
Church has left this possibility open is my understanding.
>
> Anyway, re: these removals - I can only say that the pain I feel inside of
myself knowing that this was allowed to occur is one that I am certainly not
proud of nor one that I care to necessarily discuss any further (what can be
said?). My main comment now is this: HOW COULD THEY!?
>
> Sue O'Donnell
>
>
> One should always look for a possible alternative and provide against it.
It is the first rule of criminal investigation. - Sherlock Holmes
>
>
> ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ====
> Visit San Francisco Genealogy
> http://www.sfgenealogy.com
>
>


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