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Protesting RC Church Closings

Thursday January 8, 2009

Sitting a some prime real estate, a church was chosen by the Boston diocese to be sold ... but the locals said, "No!," and they have now guarded the place for more than 1500 days. From NYT.

SCITUATE, Mass. -- There are sleeping bags in the sacristy at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church and reclining chairs in the vestibule, but no one here gets too relaxed. "Please be ever vigilant!" a sign by the door warns, and the parishioners who have occupied the church since it closed more than four years ago take it as seriously as a commandment.

Since the Boston Archdiocese closed St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in 2004, women have assumed leadership roles, including distributing the Eucharist.

St. Frances was among dozens of churches that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston decided to close and sell in 2004, not least because of financial turmoil made worse by the abuse scandal in the clergy. But while most churches closed without a fight, parishioners at St. Frances, a brick A-frame on a wooded hill, and at four other churches rebelled.
For 1,533 days, the group at St. Frances has taken turns guarding the building around the clock so that the archdiocese cannot lock them out and put it up for sale. They call it a vigil, but by now it is more of a lifestyle.

Comments (6)

Filed Under: Roman Catholicism

posted by Scot McKnight @ 2:50pm Permalink email icon

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Mary

January 8, 2009 4:44 PM

I read this article a few days ago and found it really interesting. Certainly, parish closings are a reality in many Catholic dioceses, particularly as the Catholic Church is facing a number of financial problems.

I think there is a more interesting discussion going on here then what is made explicit and that is the controversy over Catholic identity. A number of Catholics would say that a parish that has no priest, and has had statues, altar cloths, the tabernacle, etc, removed is no longer really a parish. Without the sacraments, for most of the Catholic tradition, a church is no longer a church.

Obviously, there is different thinking about that among many of the people involved in movements to keep these churches open and certainly their emphasis on community, prayer and the like is very familiar to those of us who come out of the Protestant tradition.

Scot McKnight

January 8, 2009 4:48 PM

Mary, I thought the same thing: a strong, local church identity was visible in some of the comments.

Kerry

January 8, 2009 4:51 PM

Big deal!

We have had sleep-ins at our church every Sunday AM since I arrived over 7 years ago! ;-)

Who says those pews are uncomfortable?

I enjoy seeing my people resting in the Lord.

Homeless Drew

January 8, 2009 5:02 PM

http://www.LoveisFreeMovie.com

It's neat that the church here is still staying together and has found community, but I would hope that they wouldn't be so much attached to the building as they are the community. Really I'm sure they could find another building or space to at least rent out for a while for large gatherings, but the building is not really necessary. But that is my protestant upbringing's ignorance speaking out, I'm sure many people are trying to hold to the Catholic tradition.

Anyway if the money from selling this facility could be put to use somewhere else that is important as well while the church managed to find a new place I think that they should probably respect their leaders. Hopefully they can try and raise money to be able to afford a priest and the things necessary to keep with the Catholic tradition if they wish to do so. And if they seriously disagree with the Archdiocese then they should pull out a little Matthew 18, respectfully and lovingly cause the last thing we need as one holy catholic church is more disunity. It makes me sad that these parishes are having to be closed down, but it's cool to see people toughing it out.

This sort of reminds me of the Shane Claiborne story, but without the homeless people.

Travis Greene

January 9, 2009 9:27 AM

http://mysticallimpet.blogspot.com

Homeless Drew,

My sense is that the Archdiocese is not just moving the church to a new location and selling the building, but actually closing it entirely. Or merging it into other RC churches in the area. Hence I think it's not the building they're concerned with as much as the specific community. And if they're willing to do all this, it's clearly a living church.

I am entirely in favor of the people keeping their church open. But then again, I'm radically Protestant in ecclesiology (I like a lot of Catholic teaching on other matters), so the lack of official priest and statues and stuff doesn't bother me at all.

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Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

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