MASSACHUSETTS
The Standard-Times
By JACK SPILLANE, Standard-Times staff writer
An organization of lay Catholics will hold a candlelight vigil Sunday at Bishop George W. Coleman's office to protest the Vatican's near-ban on homosexual seminarians.
The local Voice of the Faithful group, which has been prohibited from meeting in Fall River Diocese facilities, expects about 25 people to attend, said George Lee, a parishioner at St. Patrick's in Somerset and a Voice member.
Its participants are not worried about getting in trouble with the Fall River bishop, he said.
"This is about supporting priests," he said.
Voice of the Faithful SouthCoast is the local chapter of a national group that has criticized church hierarchy in the wake of the sexual abuse crisis
The group is now inviting its members to show support for Catholic priests regardless of their sexual orientation. Besides Fall River, vigils will take place in Boston, Springfield, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.