Vatican Responds to Wellesley Parishioner Appeal

Rome has returned its decision on St. James' Church--located at 900 Worcester Street--and has ruled in favor of the Archdiocese. Town counsel Albert Robinson told the Board of Selectmen about this decision at Monday night's meeting.

The town has signed a purchase agreement with the Archdiocese for the plot of land on which the church sits. The purchase is contingent on the town performing due diligence. Before doing that, the town is awaiting resolution between the church and its parishioners. 

St. James parishioners have held a vigil at the church since 2006. They’ve also made appeals to maintain the church, reaching as far as the Vatican asking the church to reverse the decision to make the building available for profane–or secular–use. 

The current appeal was made in June 2012, and was said to be the last appeal available to them. 

"The Board taken already position that the town’s policy on church matters are for church and parishioners to work out, and not for the town." Robinson added, "Our demeanor continues to be very passive about it."

After word comes from the Archdiocese, the town has 60 days to do due diligence. Robinson said this is like a home inspection, but applied to a commercial transaction.

The town gauged residents' interest in how to use the land with a survey in November of last year. The land could be turned into a pool.