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August 12, 2005 - Update on Reconfiguration Process
In January 2004, Archbishop Seán
O’Malley outlined the process for “reconfiguring” the Archdiocese
of Boston, reflecting the complexity of this period in the life of the Church. The
process was unlike prior processes in the Archdiocese because the concept was
to examine
the whole Archdiocese in a global way rather than focusing on individual parish
needs. The reasons for this approach were clearly outlined to all the faithful
of the Archdiocese in a letter dated January
9, 2004. These clearly
defined reasons included the financial difficulties facing the Archdiocese. As
the process unfolded, the people of the Archdiocese were informed that certain
parishes would be closed rather than joined together. The people were informed
that the reason for this decision was that when a parish is closed, the assets
and liabilities flow naturally by way of Canon Law to the Archdiocese of Boston. This
approach would allow the entire faithful of the Archdiocese of Boston to face
its many needs together and to permit allocation of funds to parishes with
greatest need. By contrast, merging parishes would keep the assets and liabilities
in the local area, in some cases resulting in two wealthy parishes combining
to form one very wealthy parish; while if two poorer parishes are joined they
could potentially only inherit liabilities to form one very poor parish. The
Archdiocese has explained from the beginning how the money would ultimately
be used (see Bishop
Lennon's letter dated July 27, 2004). It has further announced
that a committee set up for this purpose, the Reconfiguration Oversight Committee,
would monitor the monies collected as a result of this process.
A thorough and very public process
of reconfiguration took place over the past 20 months with many challenges,
some foreseen and others not. Over that period a few closed parishes appealed
to Rome asking the Congregation for the Clergy to reverse the decision regarding
the parish’s closure. The Congregation received all of the documentation about
the Archdiocese’s process and communicated to the Archbishop that it was satisfied
that the process used to close parishes in Boston was a legitimate process. The
Holy See has not indicated that they will be asking the Archdiocese to reopen
any of the closed parishes. However, the Congregation indicated its view that
certain corrections need to be made in the process used to allocate the assets
and the liabilities of the closed parishes to the Archdiocese. The Congregation
has informed the Archdiocese that in situations where the parishioners of the
closed parish are directed to a new receiving parish, the Archdiocese must
work with the receiving parish in order to allocate the assets and liabilities
of the closed parish to the Archdiocese. Discussions of this issue have occurred
with the pastors and parish finance councils of the affected receiving parishes.
While the discussions between representatives of the Archdiocese
and pastors and Finance Councils have been made public, final resolution of the
problem has not yet been reached. The Archbishop will continue to work with
the pastors to find the best solution for the good of the entire Archdiocese
of Boston.
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