Parish plans rally in support of cleric
Newton march to end in Brighton
Despite pleas from their former pastor, who has asked them not to protest, parishioners at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton are planning to demonstrate this weekend against the resignation of the Rev. Walter H. Cuenin from the parish over alleged financial improprieties.
Parishioners have been picketing outside the parish this week during rush hour, and some have criticized Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley for the ouster of a pastor who was known for liberal stances on same-sex marriage and his criticism of Cardinal Bernard F. Law.
Tomorrow may be Cuenin's last day to address the church he's overseen for the past 12 years.
The parish staff has planned a reception after tomorrow's 10 a.m. Mass. At 1:30 p.m., parishioners plan to lead a 3-mile protest march from the parish to the administrative offices of the archdiocese in Brighton, where a rally with speeches, singing, and prayer will begin at 3 p.m.
Cuenin told the Globe that he has been ''overwhelmed" by the support he has received, but he asked that people not protest his departure.
''It is time to focus on maintaining the spirit of the parish and helping the new pastor as he begins his ministry," Cuenin said in an e-mail. ''Demonstrations only will serve to heighten the tension of the present situation."
Peter Metz, one of the organizers of the protest, said Cuenin's appeal ''makes it a little harder to be outspoken."
''But most of us have come around to feeling that this is such a terrible injustice that we couldn't stand to be here silently," he said. ''Still, we understand that the longer the fuss goes on, the more difficult on him."
The parish council has been holding ''listening sessions" nearly every day at the church, where parishioners break into small groups and discuss Cuenin's removal from the parish.
Parishioners this week also formed a group called Our Lady's Friends that aims to persuade the archdiocese to reinstate Cuenin. The archdiocese on Monday announced that the Rev. Christopher J. Coyne, a former spokesman for Law and O'Malley, will take Cuenin's place.
Cuenin announced his resignation last weekend, saying the archdiocese had said a $500 monthly stipend he received for performing baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and a leased Honda Accord he shared with visiting priests, were in violation of archdiocesan rules.
The archdiocese says Cuenin has agreed to pay back $75,000 in stipends, which archdiocese spokesman Terrence C. Donilon suggested this week amounted to an admission of wrongdoing.
Organizers expect thousands to come to Mass tomorrow, and have set up overflow rooms in the basement, where the service will be televised. The parish already is one of the largest in the archdiocese, with an average weekend Mass attendance of 1,895 people.
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com. 