Boston Archdiocese may Push Back Church-Closure Deadline
Sean O’Malley, head of the Boston Catholic Archdiocese, met behind closed-doors with 18 pastors whose churches have been slated for closure to discuss ways to hold off the closings until after Christmas
On Thursday, Oct. 11, the Boston Catholic Archbishop Sean O’Malley made an offer to help some parishes slated for closure deal with the painful blow. According to the 18 pastors who met with O’Malley, the archdiocese may extend the parishes’ death sentence from the Christmas season to late January.
"The Archbishop felt it would be important to provide time to facilitate transition to the receiving parishes, to plan for the best use of the receiving parishes' facilities in welcoming their new parishioners and to provide additional assistance to the parishioners who are finding this process particularly difficult," a statement from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish said.
According to NewsCenter 5, the pastor of St. Elizabeth Michael Kearney was among those invited by O’Malley.
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"It's a little close to Christmas, and we don't want the pain of closing the parish to be identified with the Christmas season. So, I think I will be petitioning him to hold off until January. (The meeting) was things like that. He wants to make it a little bit easier for the people knowing the pain that we are all experiencing," said St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Rev. Michael Kearney to NewsCenter 5.
Kearney added that despite the unanticipated meeting with O’Malley, the churches will likely be closed – sooner or later.
"It is going to be very important for myself and the other priests and for the archbishop to let people know that it is not false hope. It is helping us to plan a little bit more effectively in what we are doing. The parishes will be closing. There is no doubt about that," Kearney said.
Meanwhile, across Boston, prayer vigils and lock-ins have continued in eight closed parishes. Beginning with St. Albert the Great parish in Weymouth on Oct. 29, devotees locked themselves in the pews and launched round-the-clock vigils to prevent officials from locking their beloved church doors for the final time.
Although the Archdiocese has not yet moved in to lock occupied churches, one protestor was arrested and charged with trespassing for refusing to leave the Immaculate Conception Church on Saturday, Nov 8. Gene Sweeny, 69, was released on a $40 bail.
Larry Rasky, the spokesperson for the Boston archdiocese, said Sweeny was removed in part out of concern for his safety.
However, Peter Borre, co-chairman of the lay group that organized the vigils said he was appalled by the arrest.
"This is really a crossing of the line - arresting a Catholic in a church," said Borre.
In total, 82 of the 357 parishes in the Boston Archdiocese have been slated for closure. Since O’Malley first announced the closures in May, 49 parishes have locked its doors.
