LAKECHARLES, La. (AP) – Seven small Roman Catholic churches will be closed nextmonth in five southwest Louisiana parishes, the Diocese of Lake Charles saidSunday.
In awritten statement, Bishop Edward K. Braxton hinted that more small townchurches will be closed in the future, as the number of Catholics increases andthe number of priests declines.
“Theseclosings foreshadow other changes which will need to be made in our Diocese inthe years to come,” Braxton said.
Thechurches, called mission chapels, are in Allen, Beauregard and Calcasieuparishes. They will be closed on March 20, Palm Sunday. Eleven other missionchapels will remain open in the diocese.
Anticipatingdisappointment from worshippers, Braxton said: “The decisions to close thesemission chapels were not made lightly or arbitrarily.”
MorrisLeBleu, a diocese spokesman said, “The closings were not being triggered byfinancial problems but rather because of a nationwide shortage in priests.”
