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Scituate Parishioners Ask US Supreme Court To Hear Trespass Case

SCITUATE, Mass. (CBS/AP) — Parishioners who have occupied a church closed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston more than a decade ago have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their appeal.

The Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini Inc. filed a petition this week asking the high court to reverse a ruling by the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Jon Rogers, a spokesman for the church, says the recent court filing is the most important step the group has taken so far. However, he knows it's a long shot.

"They may not take us, but statistically from the research I've done that if they do, we've a tremendous opportunity for success," he told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones on Friday.

That ruling upheld a decision by a judge to evict the parishioners in a civil trespass case brought by the archdiocese.

The parishioners have occupied the Scituate church since the archdiocese closed it in 2004 as part of a broad restructuring.

The archdiocese has agreed to allow the parishioners to stay until the Supreme Court decides to consider the case. The parishioners have agreed to leave within 14 days if the court declines.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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