Dubuque - Anger, outrage and sadness fill St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubuque, as parish leaders announce plans to cease operations.
The 160 year-old church faces a 160-thousand dollar debt and says it can't afford to stay open.

On Wednesday night, hundreds of church members filled St. Mary's vowing to keep the church from closing for good.
Pastor Steven Rosonke "some people are angry, some people are sad. It's a very emotional situation."

The emotions are mixed. The opinions are mixed. But the bottom line is plain and simple. St. Mary's Church does not have enough money to operate.

Fr. Rosonke cites several reasons. He says, "The change in the neighborhood from the last 20 to 30 years. The aging of the parish community, the financial decline, the lack of young people to take over. "

Almost 65 percent of the parish is over the age of 70. But some members say the real problem is the parish's financial relationship with Holy Family Schools.

Church Member Randy Ludowitz said, "They can say what they want about declining people coming to church and a declining people giving, but we would have enough to keep the parish going if we didn't have to pay to support the Holy Family Schools."

During the meeting a parish liaison for Holy Family Schools said there are 21 students in that school system who are also members of St. Mary's Church.

Some members say that's not enough to justify the 230-thousand dollars St.Mary's gives to Holy Family each year.

And church members say they are willing to fight until the bitter end.