SJC Won't Hear Appeal From Parishioners Of Closed Scituate Church

SCITUATE, Mass. (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts has denied a request to review a ruling that found a group of Roman Catholic parishioners are trespassing in a church closed by the Boston Archdiocese 11 years ago.

Parishioners at St. Frances X. Cabrini church in Scituate said Friday the Supreme Judicial Court declined to review a ruling from the state Appeals Court. That ruling said the archdiocese can order the parishioners to leave.

The group has occupied the church since the archdiocese closed it in 2004 as part of a reorganization to deal with a decline in Mass attendance and donations following the clergy sex-abuse scandal.

Parishioners said they will continue to ask Cardinal Sean O'Malley to reconsider the decision to close the church and will review legal options with their attorney.

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