Commonwealth, a magazine devoted to local politics in Massachusetts, has published a feature story criticizing the Archdiocese of Boston for restricting the use of parish properties that are offered for sale. In selling off parishes, the archdiocese has regularly stipulated that, as a condition of the sale, the new owners must not use the property for purposes that would be abhorrent to the Catholic Church.
This stipulation—which covers activities such as abortion and stem-cell research—could be challenged in court, the magazine suggests.
Commonwealth adds that the archdiocese has also sought to prohibit new owners from using the former parish properties as Protestant churches, or as the sites of charter schools.