Two churches in the Big Easy were back in the hands of the local archdiocese after a 10-week vigil ended with police ordering parishioners out.
The news was disconcerting to the protesters at St. Stanislaus' Church who had pointed to the New Orleans vigils as examples. They and the two Southern parishes were being advised by Peter Borre of the Council of Parishes, a grassroots group formed to fight church closings in the Boston area.
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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.
10 days of a decree of suppres-
appeal to the Apostolic Signatory, the Vatican's "supreme court." It is headed by St. Louis' former Archbishop Raymond Burke, who leans conservative.