Q&A: Breakaway Catholic churches not new, but frowned upon

BOSTON (AP) — Parishioners who have maintained a constant vigil inside a Roman Catholic church for nearly 12 years in defiance of the Boston archdiocese's order to close it are vowing to create an independent church outside the Vatican's control.

The Rev. William Clark, a Jesuit priest and associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, said there are also smaller Catholic worship groups that have been formed over the years by Catholics disillusioned by the clergy sex abuse scandal, the church's refusal to ordain women and the church's opposition to gay marriage.

Some of the independent churches and worship communities have been served by priests who help them surreptitiously because Roman Catholic bishops do not recognize these communities and would not grant permission for priests to celebrate Mass, give Communion or perform other sacraments.

The Rev. James Bretzke, a Jesuit priest and professor of moral theology at Boston College, said if Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley heard about a priest who celebrated Mass at an independent church, he would likely reprimand the priest in some way.

Terrence Donilon, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston, declined to comment on plans by St. Frances X. Cabrini parishioners to form their own church beyond referring to a statement in which he said the parishes of the archdiocese "welcome and invite those involved with the vigil to participate and join in the fullness of parish life."