The Indianapolis Catholic Archdiocese will close 12 parishes in largely rural southeastern Indiana this year as part of an ongoing review.
A church commission recommended closing parishes in Batesville and several smaller communities along Interstate 74. Archdiocesan spokesman Greg Otolski tells WIBC-FM the congregations being shuttered reflect roads and population centers from 100 years ago or more. Otolski says the parishes had dwindled to 50 or 60 families.
Otolski says former Archbishop Daniel Buechlein began the review five years ago in the Terre Haute area. A review of metro Indianapolis has just started and is expected to take another year, to be followed by assessments in the Bloomington, New Albany, Tell City, Connersville and Seymour areas.
Otolski says it's not clear how much money the closings will save.
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