by The Diocese of Antigonish plans to demolish three churches in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
St. Alphonsus Church in Low Point, St. Joseph Church in New Victoria and St. Agnes Church in New Waterford will all be torn down.
Diocese spokesperson Fr. Donald MacGillivray says the tenders for the work have already gone out.
He adds the decision was made after attempts to sell the church buildings failed.
He believes the properties will be sold although he isn’t sure what will happen at St. Alphonsus where there’s a cemetery on the property.
The Diocese closed 16 of 43 churches in Cape Breton and Victoria counties after a recent review of church properties.
A review of churches in Antigonish, Guysborough and Richmond counties is expected to be completed this summer and MacGillvray says it’s likely more churches will close.
He cites a declining population, an aging priesthood and growing cost pressures, as factors behind the closure and sale of church properties.
MacGillivray says the demolition orders for the three Cape Breton churches has nothing to do with the effort to pay off a $15-million settlement with those who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of priests .