Still No Ruling on Fate of St. Vibiana’s Cathedral
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Superior Court Judge Robert O’Brien reserved decision Thursday on the fate of St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, the downtown Los Angeles church that the Roman Catholic archdiocese wants to raze. After winning a temporary restraining order from the judge last week, the Los Angeles Conservancy is seeking a more lasting injunction against demolition.
The conservancy contends that a thorough environmental impact study must be conducted before the 120-year-old structure can be razed. Church officials say the cathedral no longer deserves such protection because the Los Angeles City Council last week removed it from the list of municipal landmarks.
Jack H. Rubens, attorney for the conservancy, said he was “mystified” that the archdiocese and city are still pushing for quick demolition now that the site is not to be used for a new cathedral. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony announced Monday that he would build the new complex elsewhere, though probably downtown, at a site to be chosen.
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