Re: Re: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches

Any building may be a place of worship once it is properly consecrated and you can have open air masses to suit the times and the conditions.

Again, this statement is not quite true.

The Institutio Generalis Romani Missalis:288. Ad Eucharistiam celebrandam, populus Dei plerumque in ecclesiam congregatur vel, ea deficiente aut insufficiente, in alium locum honestum qui tamen sit tanto mysterio dignus. Ecclesiae igitur, aliave loca, ad sacram actionem exsequendam et ad fidelium actuosam participationem obtinendam apta sint. Aedes sacrae insuper et res ad cultum divinum pertinentes vere sint dignae, pulchrae, atque rerum supernarum signa et symbola. [108]

English translation:

288. For the celebration of the Eucharist, the people of God normally are gathered together in a church or, if there is no church or if it is too small, then in another respectable place that is nonetheless worthy of so great a mystery. Churches, therefore, and other places should be suitable for carrying out the sacred action and for ensuring the active participation of the faithful. Sacred buildings and requisites for divine worship should, moreover, be truly worthy and beautiful and be signs and symbols of heavenly realities.

Only churches are consecrated for worship and not “any building”. Also, in the absence or insufficience of a church, another building may be used provided that it is respectable and suitable.

And, here Redemptionis sacramentum 108-109

1. The Place for the Celebration of Holy Mass

[108.] “The celebration of the Eucharist is to be carried out in a sacred place, unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise. In this case the celebration must be in a decent place.”[197] The diocesan Bishop shall be the judge for his diocese concerning this necessity, on a case-by-case basis.

[109.] It is never lawful for a Priest to celebrate in a temple or sacred place of any non-Christian religion.

And the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.

And here one of the early post conciliar disciplinary documents: Liturgiae instaurationes no. 9 of 1970.

9. The Eucharist is celebrated as a rule in a place of worship.[34] Apart from cases of real need, as adjudged by the Ordinary for his jurisdiction, celebration outside a church is not permitted. When the Ordinary does allow this, there must be care that a worthy place is chosen and that the Mass is celebrated on a suitable table. If at all possible, the celebration should not take place in a dining room or on a dining-room table.