open letter:

Greetings:

Strong Towns: Exploring the Role of Religious Institutions in Community Development is a podcast that addresses how the Church has historically played a pivotal role in disrupting communities  - primarily in the name of “development” and increasing their footprint in locations around the country. Often, their expansionist efforts result in taking land from the poor, and decimating socioeconomically marginalized communities. This is yet another instance.

Here in Mobile, Alabama, St. Ignatius Church, the richest Catholic parish in the state, is attacking what’s left of Sand Town. The pastor and parish board have grand plans for a massive cemetery in the heart of our community that would generate millions of dollars for their church. (If you don’t know much about Sand Town, please explore more on our website.) 

For nearly two centuries, we have lived independently, free, and peacefully in our own beloved community, and we want to see it thrive. We have been generational stewards and showed good faith to St. Ignatius Church that encroached onto our settlement in the 1960’s. We have been neighbors, tithing parishioners, and tuition paying students at their school and church throughout the decades. 

This plan for a cemetery development to the detriment of the people who reside in the community is not the way of Christ. This is not the way of a good neighbor. The truth crushed to the earth will rise again and the truth is, the proposed cemetery would dishonor the founders, descendants, and current residents of this historic area. Please click below to listen to this very enlightened podcast featuring a Catholic real estate developer, Chuck Marohn, and help us to save Sand Town by spreading the word.

Thank you,

The Sand Town Community Action Group Board of Directors

Note: In this episode, Chuck Marohn, real estate developer and founder of Strong Towns, was interviewed by “At The Table,” a podcast for church leaders interested in community-based ministry that contributes to the common good via mutual relationships, spiritual practice, simplicity and an awareness of church activities in communities.