Massachusetts court orders end to occupation of closed parish church building
May 15, 2015
A Massachusetts judge has ordered an end to the 11-year occupation of a church that was officially closed by the Archdiocese of Boston.
The “Friends of St. Frances Cabrini,” who have maintained a constant presence in the church building in Scituate, Massachusetts, were ordered to vacate the building by May 29.
The former parishioners, who had already exhausted all canonical appeals in their efforts to keep the church open, had argued in court that the state has no authority to bar them from praying in the church building. Judge Edward Leibensperger dismissed that argument, saying: “The right to control access to one's property invokes no ecclesiastic issue.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Judge Orders Parishioners To Vacate St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church In Scituate (AP)
- Boston archdiocese asks court to end vigil at closed parish church (CWN, 5/6)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
