Home About Archives RSS Feed

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
New West Side Pittsfield School Five Years Out
New North Adams Restaurant Approved for Liquor License
Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot
Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override
SteepleCats Shut Out on Road
Williamstown Planning Board Narrowing in on Subdivision Bylaw Changes
Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
Monument Mountain Scholarships & Awards for 2026
Dalton Considers Digitization of Records
Sanford, Maine, Edges SteepleCats in Season Opener
 
Appeals Process
Parishes have some options to protest their closings.

Appeal to the bishop within 10 days of a decree of suppres-
sion or merger. He's got 30 days to get back to you - or not. 

 

 

 

If the answer is still no, the parish then has 10 days to appeal to the Congregation of Clergy in Rome. They could take years to respond and usually back the bishop.

All is not lost. The next step is to appeal to the Apostolic Signatory, the Vatican's "supreme court." It is headed by St. Louis' former Archbishop Raymond Burke, who leans conservative.
If the first appeal for a hearing fails, the last step is a plea to the full bench of the signatory. The process can cost thousands.
Stories

Bishop Hopes Closings Reinvigorate Parishes

Bosley Wants More Dialogue on Church Closings

Parishioners Seek Solution to Save St. Stan's

Parishioners Set Vigil to Save St. Stan's

St. Stan's Closes With
Tears and Defiance


St. Stan's Hopes for Strength in Numbers

St. Stan's Pins Prayers on Mediation Request

 

 

 

 



Categories:
Boston (3)
coverage (4)
diocese (9)
event (5)
parish (5)
related stories (2)
Rome (6)
update (12)
Archives:
Tags:
Christmas Decree Appeals Reopening Trabold New Orleans Time Tomkowitz Closing Marians Apostolic Signatura Decision Borre Decision Appeal Republican Deicision Divine Mercy Hajdas Council Of Churches Vigil Opening Anniversary Thanksgiving Congregation Of Clergy Ruling
Popular Entries:
Vigil's Anniversary Topic of Republican Column
Diocese Says Vatican Upholds Closure of St. Stan's
Vigils End in New Orleans
St. Stan Vigilers Hope Prayers Answered
St. Stan's Vigil to Mark Two Years
Pontiff Rejects Boston Parish Appeals
St. Stan's Announces Church Is Saved
Diocese Releases Statement on St. Stan's Ruling
St. Stanislaus Church To Reopen
Time Magazine Records Parishioners' Fight
Recent Entries:
St. Stanislaus Reopens For Palm Sunday Mass
St. Stanislaus Church To Reopen
Diocese Says Vatican Upholds Closure of St. Stan's
Diocese, Vigilers Appeal Ruling on St. Stan's
Diocese Releases Statement on St. Stan's Ruling
First Western Hemisphere Divine Mercy Images Still at St. Stan's
St. Stan Vigilers Hope Prayers Answered
St. Stan's Announces Church Is Saved
Pontiff Rejects Boston Parish Appeals
St. Stan's Vigil to Mark Two Years