Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston announced this week that it would have to close 65 of its 357 parishes by the end of the year. The closures were made necessary in part by payments the archdiocese agreed to make to hundreds of people who were sexually abused by priests, which have already surpassed $85 million. Archbishop Sean O’Malley said the church was also facing declining attendance and a shortage of priests, and could no longer afford to continue subsidizing struggling parishes. The alternative to making deep financial cuts all at once would be “closing parish after parish, school after school,” he said. Bob Frasca, a parishioner who is losing his church, said he would never put “another dime” in the collection plate. “I feel like we’ve been betrayed,” he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Glastonbury and the BBC: time for a change?Talking Point Furore over Bob Vylan broadcast could 'mark the end' for streaming festival live
-
Hotels with kitchen gardens for a foodie weekend awayThe Week Recommends Feast on seasonal produce straight from the veg patch at these country retreats
-
Succession planning as the Dalai Lama turns 90In the Spotlight China 'determined to shape the narrative' around choice of Tibet's next spiritual leader
