October 23, 2005

Angry parishioners withhold donations

NEWTON (MA)
Boston Globe

By Chase Davis, Globe Correspondent | October 23, 2005

Still angry that their much-loved pastor was forced to resign, parishioners at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic church in Newton say they plan to establish an escrow account to accept donations from those who refuse to donate at Mass because they feel betrayed by the Archdiocese of Boston.

Since the Rev. Walter H. Cuenin resigned last month following archdiocesan allegations that he accepted a leased car and a monthly stipend in violation of church policies, parish leaders said weekly donations at Our Lady have fallen more than 30 percent.

Mass attendance, too, has dwindled, said Maritzie Rudden, a member of the church's pastoral council. ...

But many parishioners say they believe Cuenin was ousted over his controversial embrace of divorced Catholics and gays and lesbians, as well as his vocal criticism of Cardinal Bernard Law and the church's sex abuse scandal -- charges the archdiocese has repeatedly denied.

Posted by kshaw at October 23, 2005 08:43 AM