Posted on 05/15/2015 6:23:08 AM PDT by marshmallow
BOSTON (AP) — Parishioners of the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church must end their 11-year protest vigil and vacate the shuttered Roman Catholic church, a judge ruled Thursday.
But the Friends of St. Frances, the group that has been occupying the Scituate church day and night since 2004, say they're not going anywhere. They intend to ask the state court to stay the ruling pending an appeal.
"As of today, nothing changes," Jon Rogers, one of the organizers, declared late Thursday. "From Day One, we made a promise that we would exhaust every appeal that was available to us, and that includes the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary."
The Archdiocese of Boston, which had sued to evict the group, urged protesters to end the vigil and respect the judge's ruling, which it called "clear and thoughtful." In a statement, it invited the protesters to "participate and join in the fullness of parish life."
In his ruling, Judge Edward Leibensperger declared the former parishioners were "unlawfully and intentionally" trespassing on the church and said they would be barred from the property effective May 29.
The ruling followed a one-day bench trial earlier this month in which lawyers for the archdiocese argued the group was trespassing on church-owned property. Lawyers for the Friends of St. Frances argued that the group had a right to occupy the space and that church law must be considered in the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Janet Reno can fix this.
In Medieval Europe ‘Sanctuary’ was valid for 30 days. After that, out!
Democrats.
Render unto Caesar, once all appeals have been completed.
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