Archbishop reopens New Orleans Church

after dispute is resolved

Two days of discussions between archdiocesan and parish leaders in early April led to an agreement to reopen the parish for the next 18 months and established "benchmarks" that, if met, would keep the parish open beyond that.

The benchmarks included: increasing registered and participating parish households from 300 to 400; providing "full sacramental life ... with the appropriate sacramental programs" within the next six months, or having access to those programs in a neighboring parish; celebrating Mass "in fidelity to the church's liturgical directives immediately"; placing the parish's sacramental records in order within a month; and developing a plan for capital repairs to parish property by Dec. 31.

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