The Republican
December 23, 2011
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/mater_dolorosa_protesters_grin.html
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| The Friends of Mater Dolorosa, who are keeping a round-the-clock vigil at the church to protest its closing by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, say the diocese took the manger scene it set up. |
Protesters occupying the closed Mater Dolorosa church say the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield removed a manger scene the protesters had set up to celebrate Christmas.
Victor M. Anop, a spokesman for Friends of Mater Dolorosa Church, said Diocesan workers removed the figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus and other elements of a manger scene the protesters had set up. He compared the diocese to “a Grinch, Scrooge and Marley all rolled into one.”
But diocesan spokesman Mark Dupont said workers went to retrieve the manger scene for an open parish nearby and found protesters had taken it out without permission. He said the workers simply took it to the active parish, adding all Mater Dolorosa protesters would be welcome there.
Friend of Mater Dolorosa Church is now in its 175th day of a round-the-clock prayer vigil at the church, which the diocese closed in June.
In October, a superior court judge rejected a request to order the Friends of Mater Dolorosa out of the church. The diocese filed for the preliminary, or emergency, injunction, saying the protesters must leave so they can have the steeple removed because its poor condition poses a danger to people inside and outside the church. No date has been scheduled for the hearing on the permanent injunction.
In September, the Vatican upheld the decision to close the church, but Friends of Mater Dolorosa have appealed to the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest ruling body.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report
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