Catholics to Vote on Controversial Million-Franc ‘Matterhaus’ Project

The planned new parish and club center of the Murian Catholics continues to stir people’s spirits. Most recently, at an extraordinary church community meeting on April 27, there was a heated debate for around four hours.

First, an application for rejection of the 6.75 million loan for the “Inspiration Matterhaus” project was narrowly rejected with a difference of only one vote (100:101). The voters present then only just gave the okay for the actual loan with 110:90 votes.

IG criticized the high costs and the lack of a concept

In the run-up to the meeting, an “IG Inspiration Matterhaus” had formed. Among other things, the high costs and a lack of a usage and operating concept were a thorn in the side. Because the project should be a good two million francs more expensive than previously communicated, was the opinion of the IG.

The construction and extension of the parish center is necessary primarily for reasons of space. There are not enough rooms in the current building near the church and these are often not barrier-free and in need of renovation.

«We want a parish center, but not such an expensive one»

But now the further progress of the project is sent into an additional round. Because the IG successfully held the referendum against the credit decision after the church community meeting. The representatives of the IG recently submitted a little more than 550 signatures to church official Hans-Peter Frey, as reported by “Der Freiämter”.

Only 300 signatures would have been necessary. Felix Köpfli and Paul Beuchat from IG were present at the handover. “We want a parish center, but not one that is so expensive,” Beuchat is quoted as saying in the “Freiämter”. And Felix Köpfli complains that the entire equity capital of the Catholic parish is being used up and that hands are tied for other projects in the next few years.

The Murian church care president Thomas Kron explains in the “Freiämter” that the referendum is a legitimate democratic process. But he also says: “Church care and the building commission have repeatedly emphasized well in advance of the extraordinary parish assembly that we have not developed a plan B because we are convinced of the ‘Inspiration Matterhaus’ project.”

So now all around 3,700 Murian Catholics will vote in a ballot box on the million-euro loan for the Matterhaus. A date for the ballot has not yet been set.