Court won't hear appeal from parishioners of closed church

SCITUATE (AP) -- The highest court in Massachusetts has denied a request to review a ruling that found a group of parishioners are trespassing in a church closed by the Boston Archdiocese 11 years ago.

A group of former parishioners at St. Frances X. Cabrini church in Scituate said Dec. 4 the Supreme Judicial Court declined to review a ruling from the state Appeals Court. That ruling said the archdiocese can order the former parishioners to leave.

The group has occupied the church since the archdiocese closed it in 2004 as part of a reorganization following the clergy sex-abuse scandal.

Parishioners said they will continue to ask Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley to reconsider the closure and will review legal options.

An archdiocese spokesman said the archdiocese is again asking the group of parishioners to end the 24-hour vigil.