New Orleans police end parish vigils
January 07, 2009
Vigils at two closed New Orleans parishes ended yesterday morning when police, at the direction of the archdiocese, cleared out the buildings and made two arrests. “They broke in a door … a 100-year-old door to get in,” said one parishioner. “This is a very poor example of religion. Not only is it not Catholic, it isn't even Christian.”
“It has always been the intention of the archdiocese to bring these vigils to a peaceful conclusion,“ according to an archdiocesan statement. “This forced closure involving the NOPD [New Orleans Police Department] is the result of the actions of protestors at the former parishes. This decision was made reluctantly after exploring every possible alternative, including multiple attempts to persuade the people to leave the building on their own. These initiatives are unfortunate but made necessary now to ensure the safety of the people and security of the buildings.”
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Further information:
- New Orleans police clear out two Uptown Catholic churches (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
- A Statement from the Archdiocese of New Orleans
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