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	Charges against Church Members Dropped WDSU January 7, 2009 http://www.wdsu.com/news/18432166/detail.html NEW ORLEANS — Charges have been dropped against two church members arrested for refusing to leave Our Lady of Good Counsel when police tried to end a months-long vigil. Poppy Z. Brite and Hunter Harris were taken from the church in handcuffs Tuesday after they wouldn't allow Archdiocese of New Orleans officials into the now-closed church. Arrested Church Parishioners Not Charged Brite and Harris were facing charges of criminal trespassing and resisting arrest. Parishioners had been conducting sit-ins at Our Lady of Good Counsel on Louisiana Avenue since the archbishop ordered the parish closed in October. The parishioners said police broke down the door; archdiocese spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey said the break-in was necessary because parishioners refused to let police inside. "Hunter and I were kneeling in the pews saying the rosary," Brite said Tuesday. "They dragged us both out and arrested us." The Archdiocese of New Orleans said the closure is part of a restructuring plan meant to address Hurricane Katrina damage, a decrease in parishioners and a nationwide priest shortage.
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