For more than 11 years, a group of about 100 die-hard parishioners of St. Frances X. Cabrini Church kept their beloved parish opened by maintaining an around the clock vigil in a peaceful protest of a decision by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston to close it.
On Sunday, the protest came to an end, as they vacated the Scituate church many of them have attended for decades. In this month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the final appeal, leaving them no choice but to end their fight.
On Sunday, Dozens of parishioners gathered in the church and held an emotional final service a “celebration of faith and transition,” before leaving the church the parishioners said.
The archdiocese decided to close St Frances X Cabrini Church and more than 75 other parishes due to dwindling attendances for a shortage of clergy.
Several of the churches earmarked for closure held vigils in protest but St Frances X Cabrini was the last church to keep open for their occupation. In parallel with the sit-in was a legal challenge that went through civil courts and even reached the Vatican, but all in vain.
The state's Superior Court judge said that, the archdiocese was legally able to evict the protesters, as the legal owner of the property. That ruling was upheld by the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
An archdiocese spokesman said, “he hoped the protesters would be able to attend another church within the district”.
- Mayuka
