Assumption leaders are still figuring out the procedure for petitioning the Vatican, but they fully intend to go through with a petition once the details are hashed out, a trustee said.
BAYONNE -- Parishioners fighting to keep a Catholic church in Bayonne open are moving to petition the Vatican after the Archdiocese of Newark declined to halt its plan to close the church and merge it with two others.
Joseph Doria, a trustee of Our Lady of Assumption and a former Bayonne mayor, said Assumption leaders are still figuring out the procedure for petitioning the Vatican, but that they fully intend to go through with a petition once the details are hashed out.
"We're having that discussion now," Doria said.
In the wake of Archbishop John J. Myers' announcement a month ago that Our Lady of Assumption will be merged with two other parishes next year, Assumption members have been vocal in their opposition to the move, taking to social media and editorials to express their discontent.
Their resistance culminated in a Nov. 1 protest in front of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where parishioners wore "Save our Lady of the Assumption" T-shirts, marched on sidewalks and chanted "Save our church!"
Several days after the protest, Archdiocese spokesman Jim Goodness said Catholic leaders have no intention to change course, saying "the decision that we made was the one that made the most sense in terms of being able to provide for the long-term stability of Catholics in the area."
Goodness repeated that same sentiment yesterday, adding that, "We believe Rome would agree that the Archdiocese has followed church law and processes very carefully and correctly in implementing the changes."
Parishioners will be holding another protest on Nov. 22 in Bayonne, Doria has said.
Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.