In their zeal to save Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, the Mount Carmel Preservation Society appears to have driven its preservation efforts over a cliff. And it was all so unnecessary in the short term, casting aside a voluntary demolition reprieve offered by Bishop Robert J. McManus at least until January 2018 to study other options.

The Mount Carmel group's miscalculation was abetted by a Worcester City Council all too eager to take sides despite the bishop's offer, which was contingent on the suspension of all moves to create a historic district of the church property - moves that would have given the city a say over a troubled property it doesn't own.