Church Closings

DENISE LAVOIE Associated Press Writer

BOSTON (AP) - The leader of a Boston-based Roman Catholic advocacy group is in Rome to deliver a letter to the Vatican asking that bishops be instructed to enter promptly into mediation with 31 parishes that have closed or are slated to close.

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• Local churches join group in papal 'remediation' request

Council of Parishes co-chairman Peter Borre says the letter to be delivered Tuesday is "a last resort" aimed at getting the Vatican to prevent bishops in eight dioceses from "wrecking the Catholic church in America by shutting down viable parishes."

The dioceses with parishioners participating in the request are Allentown, Pa.; Boston; Buffalo, N.Y.; Cleveland; New Orleans; New York City; Scranton, Pa., and Springfield, Mass.

The Council of Parishes was formed in 2004 to oppose parish closings.

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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.