Parishioners of closed churches try last-ditch appeal to the pope

[Beau_Ouiville]

"Parishioners from nine Roman Catholic churches that were closed by the Boston archdiocese are trying a last-ditch tactic to save them: a direct appeal to the pope, activists said today. Peter Borre, head of the Council of Parishes, which represents Catholics opposed to closing the parishes, said he handed the appeal today to a member of the Swiss Guard at the Vatican. Borre said he was assured that the appeal would be routed to a top Vatican official.

“It is the last step in a process that’s been going on for over six years,” Borre said by cellphone from Italy this afternoon. He said the parishes had exhausted their options under church law and were now making a policy appeal to Pope Benedict."

boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/10/activists_try_l.html

 

[Dale_M]

Wow, handing a petition to a member of the Swiss Guard. That says something about the desperation and dedication of this group. They have exhausted all formal channels of appeal, and apparently lack any informal contacts at the Vatican.

A lengthy article from a month ago paints a picture of how the individuals at the various closed churches have slowly been worn down by the six year vigil.

The participants maintain a polite but strained relationship with the archdiocese, which still owns all the churches, and takes care of most utility costs and many of the repairs. But not all vigils are treated equally.

St. Therese and St. Frances, unlike the other churches, have never been granted a priest for a holiday or a funeral. Batho said O’Malley’s decisions reflect the assessment of regional bishops and vicars about the “pastoral need’’ in a given situation.

The archdiocese is hoping that the vigil participants have had time to grieve for their churches, and that they are ready to return to regular parish life.

boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/19/six_years_later_churches_closed_by_archdiocese_exhaust_appeals/

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Wow, handing a petition to a member of the Swiss Guard. That says something about the desperation and dedication of this group. They have exhausted all formal channels of appeal, and apparently lack any informal contacts at the Vatican.

To me that means it is time to let it go.