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  Charges against Church Members Dropped

WDSU
January 7, 2009

http://www.wdsu.com/news/18432166/detail.html

NEW ORLEANS — Charges have been dropped against two church members arrested for refusing to leave Our Lady of Good Counsel when police tried to end a months-long vigil.

Poppy Z. Brite and Hunter Harris were taken from the church in handcuffs Tuesday after they wouldn't allow Archdiocese of New Orleans officials into the now-closed church.

Arrested Church Parishioners Not Charged

Brite and Harris were facing charges of criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.

Parishioners had been conducting sit-ins at Our Lady of Good Counsel on Louisiana Avenue since the archbishop ordered the parish closed in October.

The parishioners said police broke down the door; archdiocese spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey said the break-in was necessary because parishioners refused to let police inside.

"Hunter and I were kneeling in the pews saying the rosary," Brite said Tuesday. "They dragged us both out and arrested us."

The Archdiocese of New Orleans said the closure is part of a restructuring plan meant to address Hurricane Katrina damage, a decrease in parishioners and a nationwide priest shortage.

 
 

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