Utrecht, Netherlands, Feb 20, 2019 / 18:54 pm
St. Catherine's Cathedral in Utrecht is expected to be closed and sold due to an ongoing decrease in attendance, as the aging building has become more expensive to maintain.
The cathedral will likely be sold to the Museum Catharijne Convent, a former convent that was turned into a religious art gallery. A hearing for the sale was held Feb. 18.
An online petition has been opened by a group of parishioners who believe there is still a possibility for Catholic growth in the city. The petition has received 1,655 signatures.
"Closing the cathedral and thus removing the visibility of Catholicism in the inner city will prevent growth of the community in the future," the petition reads.