The proposed restructuring by Bishop Ron Hicks, leader of the Diocese of Joliet, follows other church and school downsizing moves announced earlier this year in and around Joliet.
Legislation recently approved by the Illinois House of Representatives prohibiting the use of corporal punishment in private schools would have little effect in the suburbs since the majority of priva.
"When you shut down Sacred Heart, the fear is: Are they shutting down Black Catholics?" one member says. For decades, the the church preserved an identity as a home for Black Catholics that some fear will be lost under the Diocese of Joliet's church consolidation plans.
St Joseph Joliet Parishioners Blindsided By Bishop Ronald A Hicks Decision wjol.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wjol.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.