Can the noise of fans at a new Vikings stadium share Sundays with the more pious worship at the nearby Basilica of St. Mary? The rector of the historic church has his doubts.

In a story this weekend about the momentum toward Minneapolis as a stadium site, Father John Bauer worried about how the construction of a stadium and increased traffic might damage the building.

Bauer laid out similar concerns about damage to the Basilica in a letter to council member Lisa Goodman last November (below).

"Another concern is how construction and operation of a stadium might impact the programs and services we offer," Bauer wrote. He noted that football games are traditionally held on Sundays -- coinciding with Mass at the Basilica.

The letter:

Bauerletter