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

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I am totally confused as a catholic. It's the church's fault that we are all in this situation today. I believe in God and the catholic traditions that I grew up with, that's it. I no longer feel the "need" to attend weekly mass? The ONLY reason why we are Baptizing our children in the catholic church is because we don't want to deprive them of getting married in a "church" (if there are any left when that time comes). Any suggestions on a new religion that doesn't protect and pay child molestors??

Cindy, Malden

This is painful but there was no other choice . It had to be done and it may need to happen again in 5 years

Scott, Metro west

This is a bright and sunny day in Boston. Thankfully, religious pedophiles will have 60 fewer places to hide, or be swept under the rug by pretentious priests and cautious traditionalist parishoners. This day is LONG overdue.

Dan, Dorchester

Nice. Instead of selling off some of their vast real estate holdings to pay abuse claims the church heirarchy decides to close churches and schools. The fact that anyone still attends mass and takes anything the church says seriously is incredible. This clearly demonstrates how little respect the church leaders have for the laity. How many pedophile priests are still being protected?

jonny, chelsea

That really makes me angry and sad at the same time. Even my pastor Father Ronald Coyne said it, "it's going to turn people away". The whole system is corrupt. Donate your time and money for what??? To pay for pedophile suits??? I'll never give a dime to a church again...Who knows where the money is going???? It's the fault of the leaders as well that these churches are closing. When you see a red flag you act on it-not cover it up.

Scott , Franklin

It's really not that surprising... organized religion is becoming less and less important to the vast majority of Americans. Unless there is a major change in American attitude towards religion, these will not be the last church closings. (Which in my opinion, is not a bad thing.)

Tim S, Chelmsford

Change is inevitable even in the Catholic Church. I would think that this would be just the beginning. We are a moblie society now so that makes neighbirhood churches obselete. They need to tighten the belt so they have monies in the future years to spread their relious beliefs more effectively than they have in the last 25 years.

Don, Weymouth

I feels its the saddest thing possible. My church was on the list. By the grace of GOD is survived. I believe that closing the churches reincorcesd the idea that you don't need a church to be a catholic. I felt that it ment that my church wasn't good enough. Or my parish didn't try hard enough, or deserved it. It sent a message to my parish of catholics weren't good enough.

kate, south shore

It is convenient that most of the closings take place in prime real estate property. When did the archdiocese become a "for profit" organization? The reality is to make some money to pay off their lawsuits while being able to allow criminals to move around freely, all while not paying any taxes!

me, boston

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church cares more about covering up sex abuse, shuffling around pedophile priests, condemning gay marriage and denying communion to pro-choice Catholic polticians to stop to consider WHY mass attendance numbers are dwindling and why fewer and fewer people are interested in becoming priests. Could it be the fact that priests cannot marry as in almost all other faiths? Could it be unpopular and antiquated ideas about homosexuality and birth control? While my heart goes out to the parishioners who will have to leave the churches where they celebrated marriages, baptisms, and other events, I can't help but hope that this will serve as a wake-up call to Catholics clergy and laypeople about the direction that the parish is headed.

Kristina, Medford