A Massachusetts judge has denied a preliminary injunction request from a group seeking to halt the razing of a 91-year-old Catholic church.
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Preservation Society argued in its suit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester that Massachusetts law requires a state review of alternatives to demolition to minimize environmental harm.
In a decision issued Friday, a judge ruled that the society hadn't met the prerequisites for a preliminary injunction, including establishing a substantial risk of irreparable harm.
The Telegram & Gazette reports that the diocese's attorney contended an environmental review wasn't needed and the crumbling building is a public safety threat.
The Mount Carmel parish wasn't able to raise the $3.5 million needed for repairs before it merged with Our Lady of Loreto in 2017.