Archdiocese Must Give The Money Back

Vatican officials have dealt a blow the Archdiocese of Boston, halting its plans to use money from closed churches to help restore its finances.

Church officials in Rome say millions of dollars in bank accounts and real estate holdings from eight closed parishes cannot be taken by the archdiocese. Instead, the money must follow the parishioners to their new churches.

The archdiocese says it will ask pastors to voluntarily turn over the assets, and at least one of the pastors has agreed to do so.

Meantime, lawmakers on Beacon Hill are considering a plan that would require the Archdiocese of Boston to open its financial records.

While the proposal currently pertains to all religions, as WBUR's Monica Brady-Myerov reports, a hearing yesterday focused on the Catholic Church.