Protesters will continue occupation of closed Massachusetts parish church, appeal court order to vacate
May 22, 2015
Protesters in Scituate, Massachusetts have announced that they will continue their 11-year occupation of their former parish church, which was closed by the Archdiocese of Boston in 2004.
The “Friends of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church” have said that they will appeal a ruling by a Massachusetts judge, who ordered them to vacate the church building by May 29. The judge had rejected the group’s argument that they had a religious-freedom right to worship in the church. The property, the judge ruled, clearly belongs to the Boston archdiocese.
The protesters, who hold their own prayer services regularly in the church building, had previously petitioned the Vatican to keep the parish open; their appeal had been denied.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Parishioners appeal judge's order to vacate closed church (AP)
- Massachusetts court orders end to occupation of closed parish church building (CWN, 5/15)
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!
