Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley made an emotional appeal to Catholics who opposed the downsizing of local parishes, saying the cuts are so painful that he sometimes asked God to "call me home and let someone else finish this job."
In a letter directed at protesters, O'Malley said the church's financial status was "much worse than people realize" and that a plan to close or consolidate 83 of the 357 parishes was for the good of the archdiocese.
