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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the corrupt and hypocritical church has brought it on itself. let it pay for its mistakes like the rest of us do.

little ethel, lynn

The church is in a slow process of self-destruction. Fewer and fewer people can accept church teachings, and parishes will continue to close. It is sad, but if the church can't change with the times, the times will change without it.

Elaine, Wakefield

This is payback. The Church is saying, "This is what happens when you sue the Church. This is what happens when you question the judgement of the Church heirarchy. This is what happens when you you move towards a more secular culture." It is no coincidence that the Church made a point of keeping churches in Hispanic and other minority communities less likely to question Church authority. Victims will be less likely to speak out if their community may blame them for closings.

Lapsed Catholic, Concord

What's the big deal!? God is everywhere people these are just buildings. They are not taking away your faith, your love of god or the people you worship with. Move on with your lives!!!

James P, bellow falls

Such a sad thing. So many immigrants came here and formed ethnic parishes and they provided education for generations of children. Too bad that many of these are the parishes which are being closed. I think that the Archdiocese is in a dire financial situation, but closing parishes just because attendance is down is not right. I am saddened because the parish where I grew up will be gone, but I will always have the memories of happier times and the benefit of having received an excellent education.

Lyn, Boston

So what? All priests are weird and like "Anon" said, now they have 60 fewer places to hide now. Massachusetts is going through a cultural renaissance, if you ask me.

amy, boston

I think it is really sad that some malicious people would take advantage of the events of today and the sadness felt by so many faithful in Boston to spit on their faith and defile the love some have for the churches where they have fostered their beliefs and raised their families. I didn't grow up in Boston but I know that if my parish at home were closed I would be devasted. It is hard for people who don't have any kind of faith to understand the place a church and a parish community have for people who do believe and who carry on in the Church, despite the terrible failures of the Church administrators and the tragic abuse of innocent children. WE are the Church and I hope that those who are losing their parish homes will find comfort in neighboring parishes and in the community of faith.

Elizabeth, Brighton, MA

Did they really have a choice? While it may not make sense to keep churches open where 5 people show up at a Mass, it is still sad. Some beautiful churches will be abondoned and some wonderful priests will be displaced and torn from us. It comes down to one thing and what doesn't matter at ALL to God, money.

Gina, Boston

As a non-practicing Catholic, I really feel for those parishes that have been closed. I hope that this is a wake up call to the American Catholic Church (don't think that the pope will ever 'get it') that they NEED to change with the times and reform from within. That will be the only way that the remaining parishes will ever survive.

Karen, Cambridge, MA

The less churches, the less priests who can hurt children!

Julie, Weymouth