Protesters at Mass. Church Weighing Vigil's Future

CBS 3
June 6, 2012

http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/18713362/protesters-at-mass-church-weighing-vigils-future

HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP) - Protesters who've occupied a closed Holyoke church for months are deciding whether to follow a Vatican order to abandon their vigil and leave the building.

The protesters at Mater Dolorosa consider the preliminary ruling by the Vatican's high court a partial victory, because the court said it will also hear an appeal they hope will reopen the church as a worship site.

The Republican of Springfield reports (http://bit.ly/L8IxM9) the parishioners will meet Thursday to decide whether to end their vigil.

The vigil began last June, when parishioners refused to leave after the final Mass.

The diocese cited heavy debt and an unsafe steeple when closing the church. But parishioners say they could have resolved the debt and that fears about the steeple are overblown.

A lower Vatican body has already upheld the diocese's decision.