Local News

An 11-year vigil is in jeopardy after the high court rules against South Shore parishioners

The parishioners’ request for further appellate review has been denied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

By Kristi Palma @kristipalma

December 7, 2015

2 minutes to read

Parishioners at the St. Frances X. Cabrini Church in Scituate have been keeping vigil for 11 years after the church was closed in 2004.

The parishioners who have spent 11 years keeping vigil at the closed St. Frances X. Cabrini church in Scituate experienced another setback Thursday when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied their request for further review by the courts.

“Obviously, this is kind of a devastating blow to us,’’ said Jon Rogers, a spokesperson for the group. “We’re going to regroup and literally throw every option onto the table.’’

He said parishioners have discussed starting a new church and taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“There have been discussions among a small group of individuals about starting a hunger strike,’’ Rogers said. “I truly believe, for those individuals, that it’s a possibility they may explore.’’

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston closed the church in 2004 as part of its reorganization plan. About 100 parshioners who want to keep their church open, known as the “Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini,’’ have kept a 24-7 vigil inside the church in the ensuing 11 years.

In June 2014, the group lost its appeal to the Apostolic Signatura, which is the Vatican’s highest court. In February, the archdiocese sued the group when they wouldn’t vacate the church, saying they were trespassing. A Norfolk Superior Court judge sided with the archdiocese in May and told them to leave. They appealed and continued their vigil.

In October, the state Appeals Court ruled that parishioners of St. Frances were trespassing and had to leave. The court ruled that the archdiocese — not the parishioners — owns the building and has the right to make decisions about its future.

In response to Thursday’s denial for further appellate review, Jon Rogers said in a statement, “It must be made abundantly clear to all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston that when you are asked for money every week to support ‘your church’ it is not the parishioners’’ church, but Cardinal [Sean] O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston’s church, which he can take away for any reason.’’

The Friends of St. Frances group still has an appeal pending in Rome at the Pontifical Counsel for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, said Maryellen Rogers, who leads the Friends of St. Frances group with her husband. The group wants to remind O’Malley that he has promised to wait until all appeals are finalized before making a decision about the ongoing vigils, said Maryellen Rogers.

“We have been asking the Cardinal to show us mercy and we continue to ask him to show us mercy,’’ Maryellen Rogers said.

The Friends of St. Frances group hoped to discuss the latest development with their attorney as early as this past weekend, said Jon Rogers. They want a “peaceful and prayerful’’ resolution to the matter, he said. In the meantime, they will continue the vigil.

The Archdiocese of Boston did not return calls for comment, but said in October it would like the group to respect the court’s ruling, stop their vigil, and consider joining other churches.