You May Go in Peace: 14 Miami Churches to Close

Parishes will merge in the next six weeks

The lousy South Florida economy will be claiming its newest victims when 14 churches close in the next six weeks.

Parishoners of 14 congregations throughout Miami-Dade and Broward learned yesterday that they'll have to find a new house of worship by Oct. 1, when the churches will close.

The thousands of members of those congregations will have to merge with nearby churches, though some have signed petitions and are planning protests.

In a statement to parishoners, Archbishop John Favalora said that merging the parishes was a "very difficult decision."

"I know that this decision is a disappointment to the parishioners of merging parishes," Favalora's statement read. ""I assure each of you my prayers during this difficult time."

The decision to close the churches was made in May, though parishoners didn't know which of the 117 Catholic churches throughout Miami-Dade and Broward would be closed.

Click here for a list of the closing churches.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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