The Boston Archdiocese has asked prosecutors to drop trespassing charges against two parishioners who tried to start a vigil at a Natick church to prevent it from closing. NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that prosecutors said nothing has been decided yet, but Tuesday's scheduled arraignment has been postponed.
Confrontations between parishioners and the pastor at Sacred Heart Church landed two people behind bars Christmas morning.
"We were handcuffed and taken away," said parishioner Anne Green.
"I was surprised because it was peaceful," said parishioner Leo Ryan.
The holiday weekend turned tense after Natick parishioners tried to stay in the building after Christmas Eve Mass. Police were called to the scene to prevent another sit-in similar to the occupations of eight Boston-area churches slated for closure. A spokeswoman told The Boston Globe that the "Boston Archdiocese has committed, and remains committed, to taking no action or intervention at any vigil site, at least until the time that that parish community receives a response from Rome to appeals filed."
It is the second time a parishioner has been arrested after a church's final mass. Trespassing charges against Eugene Sweeney were dropped at the request of the archdiocese.