The merging of parishes and the closing of church buildings both cause a great deal of pain for parishioners – just as the necessity of having to take these steps is a source of great anguish for Bishops and pastors. In a very real sense, many Catholics have to go through the stages of grief that commonly occur in the face of a death:
- Denial
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Anger
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Bargaining
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Depression
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Acceptance
Please click here to read some thoughtful perspectives on this issue: