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 5

Screwing around and covering up child molestation bears bitter fruit. Almost nobody donates to the Catholic Church anymore, and scores lapsed during the abuse scandal.

Harvey, Allston

I am deeply saddened by the closing of so many of these churches. It's terrible for the people who faithfully supported them all these years, and I blame the Archdiocese and the Vatican for this mess.

Jean, Boston

Maybe the Catholic Church should have been worrying less about alienating gay people and more about taking care of itself!

Sandy, Plymouth

You can thank Cardinal Law for today! Don't blame O'Malley - he is just cleaning up someone else's mess. Downsizing is even hitting the churches - most younger people are leaving the church for more open-minded worship. Maybe they should convert some of the closed churches into sites for gay weddings? They could make a ton of money!

Mike

While I feel bad about the parishes that are closing, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Corpus Christi in Newton will remain open. I have many memories of that church both happy and sad including my wedding and the funeral of my son. I have since moved to the South Shore and now attend a different parish but I know that there are many grateful parishoners in the Auburndale section of Newton who now can breathe a sigh of relief that Corpus is not going anywhere!

Jim, Weymouth

Disgraceful. Hopefully this will be the final chapter in Cardinal Law's legacy. The only ones at fault here at the church leaders yet its the laity that must pay. To quote U2 - the God I believe in isn't short of cash.

Nick, Dedham

It is sad that it must be done. The Archbishop has asked us to work together to make this happen. We should. These are difficult times. The Archbishop didn't create the problem, but he's doing his best to solve it. We should support him. There is one parish now slated to be closed that I'm aware that the numbers do not tell the current story. Immaculate Conception in Cambridge in the Somerville cluster recently had a large Haitian apostolate join the parish. This changes the picture that the numbers depicted. I hope the Archbishop will reconsider closing Immaculate Conception Cambridge/Somerville.

Peter Grace, Somerville

I was extremely disappointed to hear that my home parish of St. William's in Dorchester was among the churches designated for closure. I do understand that with things the way they currently are within the Catholic Church that some changes would be necessary. I know that a merger of parishes should alleviate some of the financial burden but cannot fathom why St. Margaret's would be chosen as the location for the new parish. St. William's church was built in 1980 vs. St. Margaret's built in 1904. The "younger" St. William's would have been the more cost efficient as far as building maintenance etc. It saddens me that the St. William's I grew up with will be no more.

Maureen, Dorchester

My protestant church is staying open. It will never close. So these closings will not effect me.

Albe, South

good. They should be closed down. Maybe people are tired of the church judging people. They should all look in the mirror and realize there is no such thing as god and they are all living in a make believe world which preaches the ideas that not all people are created equal. Open your eyes people... live today, not what happened millions of years ago. All people are created equal, its time for the church to understand that.

David, boston