To the Editor:

I am writing concerning the activities of the Boston Archdiocese in the Catholic school and Parish closure program which is expected to cause permanent changes in our area.

I refer to these activities as a "rush to closure" of several vibrant, successful inner city Catholic schools and parish churches by the archdiocese mainly to raise money.

The obvious need for additional funds and a better way to utilize a declining priest roster is recognized by all. But the hurried "Rush to closure and no appeals" program criticized by Mayor Menino ("Not So Fast!!"), councilor Maureen Feeney, Senator John Hart and other civic leaders is not the only solution to such needs. A studied consideration of ideas to stimulate a return of the discouraged faithful to regular mass attendance needs to be undertaken. Cynics in the church say they will never come back. I disagree.

The "rush to closure" is a shallow attempt to show the folks who stayed here in the city the "right" way to obediently conform their worshiping lives to the ideas and desires of well meaning church policy makers. They would helter skelter destroy age old successful neighborhood communities to achieve a concept of what "is better for us all" by church closure and merger. They do not understand the fragility of unique inner city groupings.

There are less traumatic ways to raise money and utilize a shrinking priest roster that time and planning would produce. Now, when the trust and confidence in the church leadership is at best fragile, the present course could seriously further undermine this trust.

We should all learn from the lessons of the recent past and not engage in "social engineering" with the lives of hardworking everyday catholics who have held out a friendly welcoming hand to struggling immigrant populations by inviting them to participate equally in successful parish life such as here at St. William, Dorchester.

Examine the successes of the schools and churches that are to be closed such as St. William, which we parishioners rebuilt from ashes in 1983, (now marked to be closed and merged with a nearly 19th century "old classic" expensive church). Ours is a new, open, modern, completely accessible facility, economical and almost debt free. Like St. Mark's and St. Brendan's we're a diverse, successful parish, the envy even of others.

We hope that the hurried "rush to closure" of inner city schools and churches will be abandoned or at least reconsidered now that the fresh air of the new advisory board appointed by Archbishop O'Malley will flow through the stodgy halls of the archdiocese bureaucratic offices. Despite what others claim, there is still time to say, "Not so fast".

John J. Carney

St. William Parish