WMUR Channel.com, NH
Jan 13 2005
Church Parishioners Lose Court Battle To Prevent Sale
Diocese Trying To Sell Church For $1 Million
NASHUA, N.H. — Former parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church have
lost a second court battle to prevent its sale.
The Diocese of Manchester merged St. Francis Xavier with another
parish in 2003. Now the diocese is trying to sell the 100-year-old
church building for about $1 million to a man who plans to donate it
to the Armenian Orthodox Church.
A group of former parishioners and historic preservationists sued.
But a Hillsborough County Probate judge said in November the sale did
not violate the church’s deed, which says the land it’s on must
always have a place of religious observance.
The parishioners also filed a civil suit in Hillsborough County
Superior Court, claiming their rights were violated because of flaws
in the diocese’s procedure for choosing which churches to close.
But in an order released Wednesday, Judge William Groff said the
court should not become entangled in internal church decisions.
Diocesan officials say the proceeds of the sale will be used to
benefit the merged parish.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress