Protesters will seek court reprieve; occupation of closed Boston parish will continue

May 29, 2015

Former parishioners of a church in Scituate, Massachusetts, have won a last-minute reprieve from a court order requiring them to leave the building on May 29.

The former parishioners of St. Francis Xavier parish in Scituate, Massachusetts, refused to leave the church building after the parish was closed by the Boston archdiocese eleven years ago. After the protesters exhausted their canonical appeals, the archdiocese sought and received a court order requiring the protesters to leave the building. But the protesters have announced their intent to appeal that ruling, and Judge Edward Leibensperger, who had set the May 29 deadline, has said that he will not enforce his order while the appeal is in progress.

The Boston archdiocese, which has been spending thousands of dollars each year to maintain the church building, has not disclosed its plans for ousting the occupiers. The protesters—who hold their own worship services regularly in the building—have said that they are prepared to risk arrest to continue their vigil.

 

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Further information:

• Parishioners Occupying Church for 11 Years Get Court Relief (NECN)
• Protesters will continue occupation of closed Massachusetts parish church, appeal court order to vacate (CWN, 5/22)