>> TONIGHT ON GREATER
BOSTON.
>> IT'S A HOME.
IT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO
DIED ON THE CROSS.
IT BELONGS TO HIM.
>> WHY FAITH TRUMPS REALITY
FOR SOME PARISHNERS AT
CHURCHES CLOSED BY THE
BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE.
PLUS THE GULF OIL DISASTER
AND THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO
HOLD B.P. RESPONSIBLE.
AND THE NEW BOOK OF OBITUARYS
ABOUT FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO
NEVER LIVED.¶
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>> .
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JARED
BOWEN IN FOR EMILY ROONEY.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE
BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE HAS
SHUTTERED 62 PARISHES.
OTHERS REFUSE TO GO QUIETLY.
TEN CHURCHS APPEAL THEIR
CLOSING ARES FOR THE VATICAN
AND FIVE HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED
BY PROTESTORS AROUND THE
CLOCK SINCE 2004.
BUT WITH RECENT WORD THERE
WILL BE NO RESCUE FROM ROME.
THIS LONG SAGA OF PARISHES
AND PROTESTS COULD BE
NEARING AN UNHAPPY END.
>> FOR FIVE YEARS PARISHNERS
OF ST. FRANCIS CABRINI
CHURCH HAD HOPED THE VAT
WANT WOULD REOPEN THEIR
SCITUATE PARISH.
NOW THEY ARE JUST WAITING
FOR THE BULLDOZERS AND
HANDCUFFS.
>> I THINK IT WILL BE A SAD
DAY WHEN THIS CHURCH IS BULL
DOZED, THAT IS JUST WRONG.
SELLING A CHURCH BASED ON
THE VALUE OF THE LAND AND
NOT THE VALUE OF 6 THE
PARISHNERS, THERE'S A
PROBLEM THERE.
>> EVER SINCE THE BOSTON
ARCHDIOCESE CLOSED A NUMBER
OF CHURCHES IN 2004,
PARISHES HAVE OCCUPIED THEIR
PARISHES 24 HOURS A DAY.
MARY ELLEN ROGERS SAY
THEY'LL STAY EVEN THOUGH
THEIR FINAL APPEALS TO THE
VATICAN HAVE BEEN DENIED.
>> IN REALITY, WE'RE IN
THEIR COURT SYSTEM.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE PLAYING
BY THEIR RULES.
>> WHAT THAT MEANS NOW IS
ANYONE'S GUESS.
THE ARCHDIOCESE WILL ONLY
SAY IT CONTINUES TO SEEK A
PRAYERFUL RESOLUTION.
BUT THE VIGILERS SAY THEY
WON'T LEAVE UNLESS REMOVED
BY POLICE.
>> WE HAVE TO PRAY FOR THE
BEST BUT PREPARE FOR THE
WORST.
AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW
PARISHNERS THAT ARE WILLING
TO GO DOWN WITH THE CHURCH.
>> PARISHNERS LIKE NANCY WHO
SAYS SHE IS ALREADY
CONSIDERING THE FASHION
IMPLICATIONS OF BEING
FORCIBLY REMOVED.
>> WE'LL TAKE MY GOLD
BRACELETS OFF FIRST AND THEY
HAVE TO HANDCUFF ME IN
SILVER CUFFS AS THEY CLASH.
>> BUT SHE SAYS THERE IS
NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THE
CHURCH HER FAMILY HELPED
BUILD 50 YEARS AGO BEING
SOLD FOR THE PRICE OF ITS
VALUABLE SEASIDE PROPERTY.
>> THEY CAN'T DO THIS TO
THIS HOUSE.
IT'S A HOME.
IT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO
DIED ON THE CROSS.
IT BELONGS TO HIM.
AND WE'RE HOLDING IT FOR
HIM.
>> IT'S NOT JUST TRADITIONAL
ST. FRANCIS FAMILIES WHO ARE
SITTING TIGHT HERE.
17-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL RECENTLY
TOLD HIS DEVOUT CATHOLIC
PARENTS HE WAS JOINING THE
VIGIL.
>> THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE.
I CAN DO MY HOMEWORK HERE.
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GOING OUT
AND GETTING INTO TROUBLE.
I'M AT A CHURCH.
>> ENTHUSIASTIC YOUNG
CATHOLICS ARE THE FUTURE OF
THE CHURCH.
BUT HE SAYS HIS FAITH IN ITS
LEADERS WILL BE SHAKEN IF
ST. FRANCIS IS TORN DOWN.
>> I'M NOT SAYING I WOULD
DEFINITELY, LIKE, LEAVE THE
CHURCH FOREVER.
BUT LIKE, TO FORCIBLY REMOVE
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME TO
CHURCH IS AMAZING.
>> BUT WHILE THEY MAY LOSE
THEIR CHURCH, ROGER SAYS THE
VIGILERS HAVE FOUND
SOMETHING EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
EACH OTHER.
>> THIS IS A VIBRANT,
HEALTHY FAITH COMMUNITY
STILL.
AND WE WILL STAY TOGETHER
WITH OR WITHOUT THE
ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON.
>> AND WITH OR WITHOUT THEIR
BELOVED ST. FRANCIS.
>> THE BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE
DECLINED TO APPEAR HERE
UNTIL THE APPEAL PROCESS IS
COMPLETE.
BUT DID ISSUE A STATEMENT
TODAY READING IN PART WE
CONTINUE TO WELCOME ANY
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE
PARISHNERS OF CLOSED
PARISHES TO SEEK A WAY TO
HELP THEM JOIN A WELCOMING
PARISH.
AND JOINING ME NOW ARE
EARNEST COLLAMATI A PROVE
CIRC-- PROFESSOR OF
RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT REGIS
COLLEGE AND JON ROGERS A
PARISHNER PARTICIPATING IN
THE VIGIL.
SO IF IT HAS GONE ALL THE
WAY TO THE VATICAN,
EVERYTHING SEEMS FINAL THERE
SEEMS TO BE RESOLUTION IN
TERMS OF JUDGEMENT.
SO ON WHAT GROUND DOW NOW
STAY IN THE CHURCH?
>> BASICALLY THAT THE PEOPLE
OF THE PARISH OF ST. FRAP
SIS TOOK THAT HARD-EARNED
MONEY OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
THEY SPENT THEIR TIME.
THEY SPENT THEIR EFFORT.
AND THEY DONATED THE LAND TO
PUT THIS CHURCH ON THE
PROPERTY IT NOW SITS.
IN ESSENCE, THEY CREATED.
>> THIS IS GENERATIONS AGO.
>> WITHIN THE LAST 60 YEARS.
WE ARE ONE OF THE NEWEST
CHURCHES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE.
IF WE WANTED TO ATTEND MASS
SOMEPLACE ELSE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE BUILT THIS
CHURCH TO BEGIN WITH.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS OUR
SPIRIT ALL HOME.
THAT WE ARE THE RIGHTFUL
OWNERS AND WE HAVE DECIDED
TO KEEP IT YOU HAVE TO LOOK
AT THE VIGILISTS.
THEY ARE LIVING PROOF THAT
THE PARISHNERS WILL NO
LONGER STAND FOR ABUSE ON
ANY LEVEL WLCHL IT BE
FINANCIAL OR WHETHER IT BE
PHYSICAL.
WE'VE DRAWN A LINE IN THE
SAND AND WE SAY THAT CHANGE
BEGINS NOW AND IT BEGINS
WITH US.
>> EARNEST, ON THAT POINT
THIS IS A HOLY PLACE.
THE PARISHNERS HAVE MADE IT
A HOLY PLACE IT IS NOT JUST
ANY OLD BUILDING, AS YOU'VE
WRITTEN ABOUT AS WELL.
WHY WOULDN'T THE CHURCH
RECOGNIZE THIS AS WELL?
>> JARED, THE PROBLEM WE
FACE AND THERE IS A NO-WIN
SITUATION HERE.
BOTH FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE AND
THE PARISHNERS GIVEN THIS
IMPASSE, IS THAT THE
NORTHEAST REGION IS FACING
AN INCREDIBLE DEMOGRAPHIC
SHIFT.
AND THE RECENT PEW SURVEY
NORTHEAST IS HEMORRHAGING
MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCHES
AND PARTICULARLY IN THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES THAT
HAVE BEEN SO SIGNIFICANT
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
IN ADDITION, THERE IS THE
CLERGY SHORTAGE.
NOW THE PROBLEM IS WHAT DO
YOU DO WITH A VIABLE
COMMUNITY OF DEVOUT MEN AND
WOMEN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
CLOSING IS PREDICATED ON THE
ABSENCE OF A RESIDENT PRIEST
IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THIS IS
A NEVER-ENDING PRINCIPLES
BECAUSE IF CLERGY PERSONNEL
CONTINUE TO DECLINE DO YOU
THEN CONTINUE TO SIMPLY
CLOSE CHURCHES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE TO
ADMIT R THERE CASES IN THE
URBAN CENTERS WHERE
ESSENTIALLY THE COMMUNITY,
BELIEVING COMMUNITY IS THERE
IN SUCH MINIMAL NUMBERS IT
CAN'T EVEN SUPPORT ITSELF?
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH CASES
WHERE THERE ARE VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES AND THERE LEGIT
MA MATLY I THINK THE PEOPLE
CAN SAY CAN'T WE COME UP
WITH ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF
SUPPLYING ORDAINED MINISTERS
SO THAT THE COMMUNITY WHICH
IS THE BED ROM-- BEDROCK OF
THE CHURCH MAY PROSPER.
>> WHAT ONE OF THE OTHER
THINGS YOU DO IS GO TO THE
OTHER CHURCHES THAT HAVE
BEEN MERGED OR A NEAR-BY
CHURCH WHERE YOU CAN CREATE
A LARGER COMMUNITY OF
LIKE-MINDED CATHOLICS, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL
WITH CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT
THAT GENERATIONS AGO IN A
VERY BENEVOLENT WAY THIS
CHURCH CAME TO BE.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE
TO RESIGN YOURSELF TO
CHANGE.
WHY NO GO TO ANOTHER
COMMUNITY WHY NOT FIND
ANOTHER GROUP THAT IS AS
DEEPLY RELIGIOUS AND TIED TO
THE CHURCH AS YOUR GROUP?
>> WELL, ANY OF THE CRITERIA
OF RECONFIGURATION WOULD I
SAY THAT YES, THAT IS TRUE.
WE HAD A VIBRANT PAR WISH
3,000 PARISHNERS.
WE NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY
SOUND WE HELPED NOT ONLY
MAINTAIN OUR CHURCH BUT
BASICALLY CREATE A CHURCH-- I
WILL TELL YOU THIS, AS FAR
AS THE VIBRANCY OF THE
PARISH, I THINK ST. FRANCIS
WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
THEY BASICALLY HAVE LOOKED
AT ST. FRANCIS AND SAID ARE
YOU SITTING ON 30.3 ACRES OF
PRIME COASTAL REAL ESTATE.
WE NEED THE LAND.
WE BASICALLY NEED TO TAKE
THE ASSET FROM YOU.
AND ONE OF THE THE ARGUMENTS
THEY MAKE ON A WEEKLY BASIS
IS THEY'VE ALWAYS TOLD US
YOUR CHURCH NEEDS A NEW
ROOF.
YOUR CHURCH NEEDS NEW
PARKING LOTS, NEEDS A NEW
ORGAN.
SO EVERY WEEK WE WOULD
RECONFIRM WE ARE THE TRUE
OWNERS OF THE CHURCH.
AND IT IS FROM OUR POCKETS,
LITERALLY, THE CASH FLOW
THAT ENABLES THE ARCHDIOCESE
TO CONTINUE.
>> LET ME STOP YOU.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING, AND WE DISCUSSED
THIS IN THE PIECE.
WE SAW THAT BEAUTIFUL REAL
ESTATE.
ARE YOU SAYING THIS IS ALL
ABOUT MONEY.
>> IT A LAND GRAB.
IT IS ABOUT THE ALMIGHTY,
THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
YOUR QHUFERN WHEN IT BASES
THIS DECISION ON MONEY.
>> WE'RE HORRIFIED THIS IS
ONE MUCH THE MOST PAINFUL
PROCESSES THAT ANY CATHOLIC
CAN GO THROUGH.
I MEAN THIS CHURCH IS OUR
SPIRITUAL HOME.
WE HAVE HAD CHILDREN WHO
WERE BAPTIZED THERE.
PEOPLE'S CHILDREN WERE
BAPTIZED THERE.
I WAS MARRIED THERE.
BURIED OUR LOVED ONES OUT OF
THIS CHURCH.
THIS REALLY IS THE CENTER OF
OUR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, OUR
SPIRITUAL HOME.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF
SOMEBODY SHOWED UP.
YOU NEED TO REMOVE FROM THE
HOUSE SO WE CAN SELL THIS
AND REPLENISH THE COFFERS.
THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE WITH
US, A FIGHT.
>> EARNEST, WHAT IS IT DOING
FOR THE IMAGE OF THE CHURCH
TO HAVE THE PARISHNERS
REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT
IT IS ALL ABOUT.
THE PROCESS IS SO
CUMBERSOME.
THE ARCHDIOCESE WON'T TALK
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE THE APPEAL EVEN THOUGH
WORD HAS ALREADY COME BACK
SAYING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
WIN AND WHEN IT DOES COME
BACK IT IS IN LATIN AND
NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED.
VERY COMPLICATED.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
>> THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE
HERE TOO, JARED, WE HAVE TO
REALIZE IN THE CATHOLIC
TRADITION IT IS JUST NOT A
MEETING PLACE.
IF IT FROM A MEETING PLACE,
ONE COULD STILL HAVE AN
ATTACHMENT, FOND MEMORIES,
ET CETERAMENT BUT THE
CATHOLIC VISION IS ONE OF
SACK RIMENTALIT.
AND SO IF YOU NOTICE, WE
MARRIED THE ART YEARS AGO.
AND WE SEE THESE AS WINDOWS
ON THE HOLY.
SO AS JON INDICATES CAN,
WHEN THERE IS REAL BONDING
IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION IT
IS NOT SIMPLY THIS IS THE
PLACE WHERE WE GATHER, THIS
IS THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE
AN ENCOUNT WE ARE HOLY
MYSTERY.
NOT THAT WE CAN'T ENCOUNTER
GOD AND HOLY MYSTERY
ELSEWHERE BUT THERE IS A
FOCAL PIECE HERE.
BESIDES, THE OBVIOUS
INDICATIONS OF COMMUNITY AND
PRAYER.
AND GIVEN THE HITS TO
CREDIBILITY THAT LEADERSHIP
AND THE CHURCH HAS TAKEN
BOTH NATIONALLY AND NOW
NOBODY ALLLY, THE LAST THING
YOU NEED IS LITERALLY
ANOTHER LAYER THAT SAYS WE
CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
>> AND IN THAT VEIN YOU HAVE
NOW DEMONSTRATED BECAUSE I
GUESS ABOUT 700 PEOPLE CAME
FOR EASTER MASS.
>> THIS A LAY-LED PARISH.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
STRIKES THE ME THE MOST
ABOUT THIS IS YOU HAVE A
COMMUNITY WILLING TO BEND
OVER BACKWARDS, TO BASICALLY
MAKE THE CHOICES, THE HARD
CHOICES TO RETAIN OUR
SPIRITUAL HOME WHETHER IT BE
BASICALLY REPURCHASING THE
CHURCH FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE.
THEY ARE GOING IT TO SELL IT
TO SOMEBODY, WHY NOT SELL IT
TO US.
SO WE ARE NOT ASKING IT FOR
A FREE RIDE.
WE ARE WILLING TO STEP UP,
COME TO THE TABLE.
ISSUE AN INVITATION TO COME
TO THE TABLE AND DISCUSS
ANYTHING, ANYTHING PLACE,
ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR THE
CLOSURE OF OUR PARISH.
THAT INCLUDES THE PARISHNERS
OF ST. FRANCIS REPURCHASING
THEIR CHURCH IT IS NOT LIKE
WE HAVEN'T SHOWN
FLEXIBILITY.
WE BELIEVE WE CAN GO OUT AND
EVANGELIZE AND AS WE HAVE,
GROW OUR SPIRITUAL CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT.
>> EARNEST, LET ME ASK YOU
QUICKLY S THERE ANY
PRECEDENT FOR WHAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING WORLDWIDE AT THIS
POINT FOR NEGOTIATION FOR
PARISHNERS TO THE VATICAN.
>> OH, YEAH, BECAUSE THE
APPEALS PROCESS IS THERE.
BUT IT IS LEGITIMATE PROCESS
BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL THE
ANSWER TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE
VERY FACTORS THAT JOHN HAS
INDICATED IN THESE CASES AND
DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHERS
THAT IF A REASONABLE PERSON
WERE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE
IMPLICATIONS AND FURTHER
PROJECTION AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF A SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO
SAY SADLY IN ANOTHER
GENERATION IT'S NOT GOING TO
BE THERE.
BUT JON'S INDICATION IS HERE
IS A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY
HAD A FUTURE.
WAS SECURE K HANDLE THE
CHALLENGES AND SHOULD IT
NECESSARILY BE PREDICATED ON
WHAT SEEMS TO BE A DRIVING
FORCE IN A NUMBER OF DIOCESE
IN THE UNITED STATES S THE
DECLINING NUMBER OF CLERGY.
WELL, THAT CONNECTED
QUESTION HAS TO BE
ADDRESSED.
>> YOU CERTAINLY HAVE
PERSEVERANCE, SIX YEARS AGO,
WE'LL CONTINUE TO CHECK IN.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR
COMING.
>> THANK YOU, FOR HAVING US.
>> AND IN A MOMENT THE
PRESIDENT BRINGING MORE TO
BEAR FOR B.P..