Former parishioners of a closed church in Scituate, Massachusetts have decided to end their 12-year vigil after the U.S. Supreme Court denied their request to hear the case on May 16.
Since 2004, people have held vigil at the St. Frances X. Cabrini Church after the Archdiocese of Boston closed it as part of the 85 churches affected by its reconfiguration process.
According to the group Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini, they will leave the premises after holding a meeting on May 29, according to The Pilot.
"We are proud that we have brought these important issues to the U.S. Supreme Court and are confident that other parishes in similar closure situations will build on our shoulders to carry these matters forward to a successful decision in the Court," said Jon Rogers, a spokesperson for the group.
He said their group will remain together as a faithful Catholic worship community and continue with or without the guidance of the Archdiocese of Boston.
"The next phase of this faith journey will be a transition into an independent Catholic community—without the archdiocese," he added.
After the archdiocese decided to close 85 churches in 2004, former parishioners at 11 churches filed appeals with the Vatican while some occupied churches to prevent them from closing.
St. Frances X. Cabrini is the last former church that held a vigil.
Last October, the Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a judge's decision that the property belongs to the archdiocese and the former parishioners are trespassing.
On Dec. 3, the Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court denied any further review of the case, which prompted the former parishioners to go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a statement, archdiocese spokesman Terrence Donilon said that "given the denial of the Friends of St Frances Cabrini's petition, we ask them to end their vigil and leave the property within 14 days," according to The Guardian.
The archdiocese invited "those involved with the vigil to participate and join in the fullness of parish life."
