Archdiocese Takes Parishioners Of Closed Church To Court

DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — The Archdiocese of Boston has taken some parishioners to court in an effort to put an end to their 10-year vigil at a closed Roman Catholic church.

A Superior Court judge heard arguments Friday. It's unclear when a ruling will be issued regarding the church in Scituate.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church was among dozens closed in a 2004 restructuring to address the archdiocese's debt. A group of parishioners has been holding a nonstop vigil inside the church ever since.

The archdiocese gave the group a March 9 deadline to leave the church, but the parishioners stayed. The archdiocese is seeking a court order compelling the parishioners to leave.

The parishioners' lawyer says they'll fight the archdiocese in court.

Archdiocese spokesman Terrence Donilon has declined to comment on Friday's hearing.

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