Boston Archdiocese Defends Parish Grouping Plan

The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is defending a plan that would combine its nearly 300 parishes into groups that would share resources. The move is aimed at streamlining church operations and saving money.

Under the plan, parishes would be put into groups of two to four to be overseen by a single pastor. That pastor would have the ability to recommend a church closing, but Monsignor William Fay of the Boston Archdiocese said the goal is not to close more churches.

"That's not the vision we have in mind. The vision we have in mind is, what do we have to do to be a much more vibrant, active, engaged and larger church down the road," Fay said.

A group that fights church closings said the plan would lead to more church closures.

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