Is your parish on the list of churches that may close? If so, why do you think it should or shouldn't be closed?
Read the story: 60 churches will close in Boston archdiocese
Special report: Parish closings

Page 11

This is a church that gives so much to such of a mixed community. This is a church were 3 generations of our family has grown. I have two children that attend St. Joseph's school. My sister and I attended K-8 th grade at St. Joseph's. We have made all of our sacraments there, as well as our children. It is the only church left in the city that offers a spanish mass that my dad attends and has for years. My family and I as well as our children our so deeply saddened.

Ramos and Pagliaro family, salem, mass

Maybe if the church and O'malley spent less time worrying about gay marriage and worrying about the abuse in the church. He would have found the time and money to help these churches.. Shame on him!!!!

Trina , Revere

There are so many family memories and personal histories entrenched in these parishes. I don't understand why the church didn't do something to prevent this from happening years ago or come up with some other solution. This does not seem like the best solution. I am sorry to see Our Lady of the Presentation go. Bye Pressy. See ya OLP. Thanks for the memories..

JM, Boston

On one hand I feel badly for the parishoners whose churches are closing but on the other the church is guilty of some terrible sins including covering up heinous crimes and alienating it's members. It's only right that they should have to sell off some of their vast empire to pay their debts. With any luck the beautiful structures will not be torn down, but rather, made into condominiums so they may continue to grace our neighborhoods. The times are changing and people are no longer blindly accepting the doctrine of the church. They are accountable for their actions the same as everyone else. If the church has alienated so many people that it can't afford to keep its chruches open than so be it. let them close.

robert, boston

As Christians, we are taught to not hold on to material things. Although these buildings are special to many of us, it is ultimately the people inside that make the church the sacred place that it is. Let's come together, as Christians, to support each other in this difficult time rather than dwell on the material losses.

SB, Massachusetts

Not being a Christian the decisions of today do not affect me. To say that the today's closing is solely due to the indiscretions of pedophile priests is absurd. The Archdiocese just recently sold te big parcel of land in Brighton to Boston College (which was the former home of the Cardinal). Face the facts, people are just not going to church (and other places of worship) as often as they used to. The Church is recognizing this fact and acting on it. Think of this in the positive. If your church is closing, think of all the new church-goers you will be able to meet, and the new friends you will make. Think about the larger numbers of people that will be at mass. If you show a believer a mass with 100 people, don't you think they are more apt to attend than if you show them a mass of 20 people? Use this time as a chance to renew your convictions. Use this time as a chance to build and rebuild a stronger community. If you focus on the negative, you are surely to be unhappy. If you don't want your hard earned donations to go to causes you don't want it to (like paying for pedofile settlements), specify exactly where you want the money to go. If you make a donation to a general non-profit fund, that non-profit (in this case The Church) can use it for whatever purpose they want. If you specify what the donation is for, then the non-profit is legally obligated to use those funds for that specific purpose. Using it for anything else would be illegal. If you are worried about corruption, take a greater role as a lay leader. Become more active in the direction you want your church/parish/diocese run. If you don't continually watchguard those who have power, then they are more likely to abuse the power they have been given. You, the lay community, are the check to that power. Good luck in your new church/parishes, but before you say no more, at least give them a chance.

Josh, Boston

Let's see... the closings supposedly don't have "anything" to do with the settlements that the church has been forced to enter for its misdeeds and the ensuing coverup. But instead, it has everything to do with not enough money to upkeep the buildings or pay the pensions in addition to the fact that not enough people want to be priests anymore. The church should stop the cover up. Be honest. Maybe if the church would walk the talk of its teachings, there would be a brighter future.

K, Boston

The Church is paying for (literally and figuratively) the crimes of Cardinal Law and scores of others who turned a blind eye to abuse in the church. OK, fine, move on. And, of course, the Globe and others here are cheering the difficulties the Church is going through. Because, in their and more of your minds, Catholics are evil of course, convienently putting aside the scores of folks helped by Catholic charities with food pantries, affordable housing developments, caring for the sick and elderly, etc. What's especially interesting to read, however, are the numbers of the haters on this board who are stating to the effect "good riddence as the church is anti-gay anyway". Hmmmm....I thought I remember reading somewhere that the vast majority of abuse cases were male (priests) vs male/boys. Gee, that can't be an indictment upon the gay community now can it? Way to go, hypercrites.

Diamond Dave, Taunton

I used to care about the Church. I was even confirmed by O'Malley down in the VI in 1990. Unfortunately, the Church has gone to great efforts to make it clear that because I'm gay I have no place in the community. So close them all down. They'll make great museums, condos, community centers, etc.

Crespo, Jamaica Plain

Unbelievable! Both Concord Parishes are in excellent financial condition, the buildings are in excellent condition. Attendance is standing room only at Our Lady's in West Concord! Where will the Catholic parishoners in Concord go to worship? I guess with real estate values what they are in Concord the Archdioses is looking at the money they get from liquidating the collateral.

Karen, Concord