Plans to spend $850,000 refurbishing Holy Family Catholic Church at Menai have divided the congregation.
The Leader has received several complaints the "beautification" project is unnecessary and out of step with the simplicity the church should be embracing after the failings exposed by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
However, the Parish Priest says a survey has shown 80 per cent of the congregation support the plans.
One parishioner, who voiced concerns, has been a member of the parish for 30 years, from when Mass was celebrated in the Bangor Public School hall before the church was built.
"I confess I have always loved the church for its simplicity, its concern for families and its strong community mindedness," the parishioner wrote.
"I have a real concern that all the money I have put into the building fund for the school and church is now going to be put towards, it has been hinted on "the grapevine", a $1 million altar in the vein of a marble edifice such as in the Vatican or churches overseas.
"I would like to suggest that the majority of people who attend this church, and that has reduced significantly because of the royal commission,...have absolutely no idea what is planned for this 'bush church' that I have grown to love".
Another "very disappointed and saddened parishioner of 30 plus years" wrote, "What happened to simple Christianity and Jesus's way?"
"What a smack in the face for the royal commission. Beautification is not a word to be used at this time, it should be 'sorry', not 'look at how much money we think we've got' "
Parish Priest Father Mani Malana said in a statement to the Leader, "The Holy Family Catholic Parish Menai is involved in extensive consultations with parishioners over a proposed refurbishment of the church, which was constructed in 1991".
"The parish recently conducted an online survey of parishioners with 520 responses and 80 percent supporting the refurbishments," Father Malana said.
"The proposed refurbishments are estimated to cost $850,000 and will modernise the church.
"If the refurbishments are approved, construction is expected to take two months and during this time, Mass will continue to be celebrated at the adjacent John Paul II hall."
