L.A. Cathedral

I want to thank The Times for its continued coverage of the archdiocese’s plans for a new cathedral church to serve the people of Greater Los Angeles (Opinion, Nov. 5).

In undertaking the important commitment to build a central cathedral, the archdiocese’s primary considerations are: 1) to have a cathedral church that will meet the liturgical and worship needs of the largest Catholic community in the United States; 2) to satisfy the obvious requirement that our church buildings meet necessary standards of seismic and life safety; 3) to guarantee that funds specifically donated for a new cathedral are properly utilized for this purpose, and 4) to ensure that appropriate memorialization be made of the history of the cathedral. It is also our hope that by focusing on the historic core of Downtown Los Angeles as the preferred site for a new cathedral, we can advance the renewal of a relatively depressed area and help reconnect and re-enliven with human activity the historic neighborhoods of our central city.

It is in this context that we have requested the Cathedral Square Project executive, Yellin/Keller, to participate with the Los Angeles Conservancy in a workshop to explore all related issues and to provide all interested constituencies an opportunity to express their views so that we might be fully informed on all relevant matters. However, it must be stressed that at the conclusion of the workshop, and after thoughtfully considering all information developed, the archdiocese alone can and must make the very important decisions regarding our new cathedral.

It is our hope that future public discussions on this matter will also focus on the important symbolic and functional meaning of building a cathedral, as we approach a new century in the life of our city and the third millennium of Christianity.

MSGR. TERRANCE L. FLEMING

Moderator of the Curia/Chancellor

Administrator of the Cathedral

Los Angeles