The Dogma Church

This is the abandoned Roman Catholic church where the movie "Dogma" was filmed.  It's located in a gritty section of the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh.  I walked to this place from my apartment back in 2002, when I was living on Highland Avenue, just to check it out.  It's in even worse condition today.  Although East Liberty has experienced rapid gentrification since I lived there, this little pocket is still forlorn.  Much of the public housing that surrounds the old church is also sitting vacant.  But I happened to be back in the old neighborhood today.  

 The church stands in lovely dereliction, abandoned by the Italian immigrants who once made up the flock here.  Italians mostly fled the neighborhood in the 70s and 80s when the construction of various sports arenas in the Hill and North Side displaced African Americans to this part of town.  A few old diehards remain; they hang out at the barbershop on nearby Sheridan Avenue, speaking an odd patois mix of Italian and English, drinking bitter burned coffee, and cursing modern life.  During its life of service, the church was known as "Saints Peter and Paul Parish."  And although it would be an architectural gem in most cities, here in Pittsburgh, gorgeous churches are too plentiful.  For a poignant example, check out the unsentimental destruction of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church.  In a town like this, it takes more than beauty to save a building from ruination.      

Hell, at this point, Alanis Morissette herself couldn't save this place. (Alanis played the part of God in the movie.) These are the sacred doors through which Ben Affleck and Matt Damon had to pass in order to gain eternal life.  I didn't get a photo of it, but the light passing through some the windows seemed to indicate that parts of the roof have collapsed.

If you're looking for a tiny brush with fame and glamour, take Penn Avenue east from downtown all the way up to East Liberty Boulevard. You'll see the twin towers rotting where they stand, almost stripped of shingles.  Against your better judgment, swing a left onto East Liberty Boulevard and left again onto Larimer Avenue, where the building stands.  The neighborhood is eerily open, as many lots are vacant; the structures have long since been torn down.  Local youths will stare and posture, but they're just showing off for their friends.  They won't hurt you.  The church purports to be protected by a "Guardian" security system.  Walk around, but don't try the doors; they used to stand ajar back when I first visited the place, but now they're apparently armed. ~ Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 130 Larimer Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206-3128