Parish
Closings Fast Facts
January 14, 2004 statement on
Parish Closings
February 3, 2004 letter from Jim Post and
John Hynes to Archbishop O’Malley
March 8, 2004 VOTF statement calling for
moratorium
March 9, 2004 letter from Steve Krueger
to Chris Coyne
March 31, 2004 letter from John Hynes
to O’Malley
March 31, 2004 Letter from Mark Maloney,
Boston Redevelopment Authority, to Bishop Richard Lennon
May 7, 2004 statement by John Hynes
Flyer for May 23, 2004 event
Financial Implications information |
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March 31, 2004
The Most Reverend Richard Gerard Lennon, D.D.
Archdiocese of Boston
2101 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02135-3192
Dear Bishop Lennon:
I write once again to extend my offer to assist the Archdiocese of Boston with
the preparation of an Institutional Master Plan (IMP) for your properties
in the City of Boston. I am sure that this process will prove mutually beneficial
to the Archdiocese and the City.
All of Boston’s institutions play a special role in the city, but the
City’s churches are unique in their impact. The Church has long been
a stabilizing force in Boston’s neighborhoods and a leading provider
of social infrastructure. In addition to the services provided throughout the
lives of your parishioners, churches are a source of identity and pride within
a community. As you may know, parishioners from across the Archdiocese have
cited the importance of a parish to the surrounding community as one of the
primary criteria in any decision to close a parish.
As the City’s economic development and planning agency, the Boston Redevelopment
Authority (BRA) has a significant interest in the health of the neighborhoods
and the impact any parish closings might have upon the surrounding community.
Our responsibility is to ensure that the concerns of all Bostonians are addressed
during times of significant change and we want to work with you in a proactive
manner to develop a plan that strengthens the Archdiocese and the City’s
neighborhoods.
I want to assure you that an IMP is not a device to delay or disrupt any reconfiguration
efforts. The community involvement that accompanies an IMP process ensures
that neighborhood concerns regarding the development of any Archdiocese property
are addressed at an early stage. Successful IMP processes are true collaborative
efforts that build consensus on the significant elements of the plan, minimizing
any delay or disagreement once implementation begins. Church property within
Boston is subject to Boston’s zoning requirements and an IMP can simplify
the review of individual proposed projects, saving the Archdiocese time and
money while moving forward.
The Archdiocese of Boston has a long history of partnering with the City and
BRA. I look forward to building on this relationship as you proceed with your
reconfiguration efforts.
Sincerely,
Mark Maloney
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