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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What I don't understand is how on such a sad day for so many, there are people who say they don't feel the "need" to attend weekly mass, and that the only reason they are baptizing their children is so they can one day marry in the Church. If you don't feel the need to attend mass, why do you feel the need to marry in the Church? These hypocritical attitudes, while certainly not the main reason for parishes closing, most definitely contribute to the state of the Catholic Church today.

Mary, Jamaica Plain

Despite yers of Catholic school (or maybe becasue of it) I emotionally and spiritually disconnected form the Cathollic Church in 1966 when I was 10 years old after being told that the only way I could get begind the altar was to clean it. Why would anyone think that this instituiton would last forever? Nothing does, except spirit. The spirit of Jesus - compassion, loving kindness, non-anger, peace - grows in the hearts of people who seek those things through a spiritual practice. I became a practicing Buddhist over 20 years ago and have never looked back. There are other ways to be a good person that do not involve the catholic church. but do retain the fundamental values of compassion and love and humility. Those values were obviously not embraced by the hundreds of documented pedophile priests who brought down their own temple.

penny, concord

I personally dont care....the pain the church has caused to those thousands of children and the pain they inflicted on them..........its call PAYBACK!!!!! Time to pay the Piper!!!!!!

Maurice, BOSTON

I heard O'Malley say the closings had nothing to do with the abuse cases. Since he is the ONLY one from the Catholic church that has stepped up to the plate and acknowledged any kind of abuse at all, I'm willing to give him and only him the benefit of the doubt. People confuse a building (the church) with their faith. All these people that are up in arms and saddened and outraged about this, well, I'm sorry for you truly.

ALICIA, BOSTON, MA

Sad day. Though not religious, I've come to realize that churches do much to hold communities together, beyond just offering worship services. Maybe having fewer, better attended churches will improve the worship experience, but it will surely diminish the communities.

Sean, Sudbury

This is why my husband and I (and a ton of others at our church) have converted to Unitarian Universalism. The Catholic Church just doesn't care about its people. They only care about protecting and maintaining the hierarchy that is Rome. If you're looking for spiritualism without the guilt and negativity, check out UUism.

Kathy D, Westford

It's sad for people to lose their place of worship, especially the elderly. But this is a sign of the times with the Catholic church, which shielded itself from the law for so long, and now is asking parishioners to pay the price.

Nancy, Plymouth

For those of you who are not Catholic, please do not bash our religion with your political opinions. This is a very serious issue to us that we are trying to deal with. If you have nothing good to say...keep quiet! I went to school for 8 years in St. Catherine's and made my first communion there. It is a beautiful church and a great parish. It is sad that it has to be closed to pay for the sins of a few.

Harry, Charlestown

I grew up in Jamaica Plain and went to school at Blessed Sacrament. Such a beautiful old church and such a parish life in the late 1960s and before. Things started to go downhill in the 70s and 80s when vandals broke the stained glass windows and the main sanctuary was closed closed because of roofing problems. I never dreamed I would ever see the day this and other beautiful old churches would close their doors. But I guess this is what is to be expected when you lose the trust of people and then compound matters by driving more away than you attract. A church in trouble has no business trying to influence politicians, especially by threatening to withold Communion. I'm afraid that if the Church continues to try to drive wedges between friends, families and their politicians, we will see more and more parish closings in the future.

George, Chicago

It's a shame indeed. I would feel sorry, however, I have too much disgust for the organization and it's teachings. Unfortunately, I am one of those "Catholics" who used to attend service regularly and then got fed up!

Brian, Boston, South End