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Vatican: churches can be shut for good of diocese

The Vatican's highest court has ruled church leaders can consider the greater good of a diocese when closing a church, not just the health of an individual parish.

A Roman Catholic lay group opposing church closings on Thursday released its translation from Latin of a decision denying an appeal from a church closed by the Boston Archdiocese.

The decisions on 10 churches went public in May. The longer rulings were released Saturday, and the Council of Parishes said the rulings had "substantially identical" reasoning.

It said the Vatican ruling means no parish is safe from closing.

Parishioners have occupied five churches in the Boston area around the clock since their closings were announced in 2004.

The Boston Archdiocese said Thursday it would formally review the rulings, and is seeking a peaceful end to the vigils.

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