City Officials Rally Against Possible Parish Closings

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A coalition of city officials wants St. Louis' archbishop to move cautiously in closing parishes, pressing that such decisions should reflect population growth of the city "experiencing a rebirth."

The eight-person, largely Catholic group -- including the city's prosecutor, circuit clerk and treasurer -- also suggests that possible closures being considered by Archbishop Raymond Burke may strip communities of their identities and benefits of Catholic charity.

Jamie Allman, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said a task force tapped to draft the consolidation plan for Burke's review already has considered Census Bureau figures and populations of certain neighborhoods.

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