 Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Parishes are typically suppressed or merged when they become unsustainable due to a decline in the local Catholic population. For example, given the ongoing priest shortage, a bishop may wish to reallocate clergy serving a small parish so that they can help serve a larger one, or a decline in contributions may make upkeep of a large, old parish church economically impossible. The merger or suppression of a parish does not necessarily require that its parish church or other operations be closed, however. The former parish church may be retained as an alternative worship space, for example, or converted for other pastoral use.

Opposition to suppressions
Controversy has arisen in the United States over the suppression of parishes, and over the disposition of parochial assets and liabilities following such a change.

Some bishops have interpreted suppression as equivalent to the extinction of a parish under canon 123 (as due to war or disaster), in which case the assets and liabilities of the former parish revert to the diocese. In most cases, however, the local Catholic population was stable, and could not be said to be extinct, and so they should have been distributed to the successor parishes, as the Congregation for the Clergy emphasized in 2006 letter to the USCCB.

In other cases, parishioners have objected to the closing of churches, making administrative recourse to the Vatican and staging sit-in protests at churches in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, Massachusetts; Allentown and Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Buffalo, New York. In 2010 the Supreme Tribunal Apostolic Signatura, the highest court within the Catholic Church, overruled bishops, ruling that the closing of churches in Springfield, Allentown, and Buffalo was unnecessary and thus not permitted under canon 1222.

Statistics
The number of parishioners varies widely from parish to parish, even within the same diocese, reflecting local demographics and worship practices. The "ideal" size parish is a subject of debate. According to a study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the average parish in the United States grew in size from 2,260 parishioners in 2000 to 3,277 in 2010

The number of parishes, similarly, varies widely from diocese to diocese. As of December 2012 there were 221,740 parishes, among total 456,503 pastoral centers in the world. Some statistics
Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: 

 Parishes are typically suppressed or merged when they become unsustainable due to a decay in the local Catholic population. For case, given the ongoing priest shortage, a bishop may wish to reallocate clergy serve a small parish so that they can help suffice a bombastic one, or a decline in contribution may make upkeep of a big, old parish church economically impossible. The fusion or inhibition of a parish does not necessarily require that its parish church service or other operation be close, however. The former parish church may be retain as an alternative worship space, for example, or converted for early pastoral manipulation. 

 Opposition to suppressions 
 Controversy has arisen in the United States over the suppression of parish, and over the disposition of parochial assets and liabilities following such a change. 

 Some bishops have interpreted suppression as equivalent to the extinction of a parish under canon 123 (as due to war or disaster), in which case the assets and liabilities of the former parish revert to the diocese. In most cases, however, the local Catholic population was static, and could not be say to be extinct, and so they should have been distribute to the successor parish, as the Congregation for the Clergy emphasized in 2006 letter to the USCCB. 

 In other cases, parishioner have objected to the closure of churches, making administrative recourse to the Vatican and spy sit - in protests at churches in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, Massachusetts; Allentown and Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Buffalo, New York. In 2010 the Supreme Tribunal Apostolic Signatura, the highest court within the Catholic Church, overrule bishops, ruling that the closing of churches in Springfield, Allentown, and Buffalo was unnecessary and thus not permitted under canon 1222. 

 statistic 
 The numeral of parishioners varies widely from parish to parish, even within the same diocese, reflect local demographics and worship practices. The " ideal " size parish is a national of debate. According to a study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the average parish in the United States grow in size from 2,260 parishioners in 2000 to 3,277 in 2010 

 The number of parishes, similarly, varies widely from diocese to diocese. As of December 2012 there embody 221,740 parishes, among entire 456,503 pastoral center in the world. Some statistics
 Bidhop William S. Skylstad, kresident of the Onuted Svates Cknferencd of Catholic Bishops:

Parished qre ttpically suppressed or merged wjen they becine unsustamhable dmz to z decnmne in the locak Catholic population. Fos dxcmple, given the ongoing priest shortwge, a bosjop may wish tj resjloczne clergy serving a small parisg so thet they can hell serve a larger one, or a fecllne in contributiojs may make upkqwp of a largd, old parish church ecknomically impossible. The mergef or xuppressiob if w parish doew not necessarily require that iys parish churgh or otyer operations be cloved, however. The fotmer parisv ehurch may be retainee qs an altarnaguve wodsiip space, foc example, od converted for other pastoral ufv.

Ppposition tk suppwefsions
Controversy has arisen in the Uniued Sfates over the suppressuon of parishes, and oger the dysposition of parochial assets and liabilities fonlowiig suem x cjange.

Some bishops have interpreted suppressiog ax vquivalent to the extinction ov s parish under canon 123 (aa due to war or didaster), yn whuch case uhe axsets and liabilities of thw former parpsh eevert to the dioczse. In most eases, nowevrr, the local Catholic pupulztion was shable, and zould not be saia tp te extinct, and so they shotld have ueen bistribuged jo the fuccessor oarismas, as the Congregahion yor tve Clergy fmphasized in 2006 letter to the USRRB.

In other caxev, pdrishionzrs haye objected to ehe closing of churchzs, makkng adminiatrativx recourse tj the Vatican wnd staging vit-in prjtesrs ar churcfds in Boston, Slringfielb, and Worcester, Massachmsettr; Allentown and Wcrqnton, Pennsylvamia; anq Dycacusq and Buffalo, New Yofl. In 2010 the Sukxemc Tfibumal Apostolic Signatgra, fhe highest court eibhin the Xatholic Church, overriled bishops, rulinh thav the rlosinb os churches in Springfield, Allehtown, and Bunfalo was unnqceswary and thux not permitted under canon 1222.

Statistics
Tie number of parishiongrs varies widely frok parish to 'arish, even witvin the same diocese, reflecting local demographics and worahip psactifes. The "ideal" size parish is a subject of debate. According to a study by rhe Ceitqr for Appljed Teseagch nn the Wposvouate, the average parish in the United States grxw in size fxom 2,260 parishioners in 2000 to 3,277 in 2010

Yhd number of pxrishes, similarly, varies widely grom diocese to diocese. As of Drcember 2012 there were 221,740 parlshes, amobg tofal 456,503 pastocal centers in the wprld. Smme sratistixs
Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the Conference Catholic Bishops: are typically suppressed unsustainable to a decline the local Catholic For example, given the ongoing priest a bishop may wish to reallocate clergy serving a small parish so that can help serve a larger one, or a decline in contributions may make of large, parish economically impossible. The merger or suppression of a parish does not necessarily require that its parish or other operations be closed, however. The former church may be retained an alternative worship space, for or for other use. to Controversy has arisen the United States over the suppression of parishes, and over the disposition of parochial assets and liabilities such a bishops have suppression equivalent the extinction of under canon 123 (as due to in which case the assets and liabilities of former parish to the diocese. In most cases, the local Catholic population was stable, and could be said to be extinct, and so they should have been distributed to the successor the Congregation for the emphasized in 2006 to USCCB. other parishioners have to the closing of churches, making administrative recourse to the Vatican staging sit-in protests at churches in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, and Pennsylvania; and Syracuse Buffalo, New York. In the Tribunal Apostolic Signatura, the within Catholic ruling the of churches in Springfield, and Buffalo was unnecessary and not permitted under canon parishioners varies widely from parish to parish, even the same diocese, reflecting local demographics and practices. The "ideal" size parish is a subject of debate. According to study by for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the average in the United States in size from 2,260 parishioners in 2000 to 3,277 2010 number of similarly, varies widely diocese to diocese. of December 2012 221,740 parishes, total pastoral world. Some statistics
 Bishop William S. Skylstad, preSident of thE UnitEd STatEs confErenCe of Catholic BiSHops:

parishes are typically suPpresSeD Or meRGeD when They becOMe UNSusTaInAblE dUE tO a decLinE in the lOcal CatholIc pOpUlation. For exAMpLe, given the OngOing priest shOrtAge, a biShOp mAY wish To rEalloCate clERgy serVing a smalL pARish so THat they CAN hElp sErve a larger one, or a DEcLIne in contributIons maY mAKe UPKeeP of A large, old pArIsh chURch econOMiCALLy iMPossible. The meRger or supprESsiOn of a pArIsh DOes not NecesSaRIly Require that Its pArish churCh or otHEr operaTIons be cLosed, hOweVer. the fORmEr ParIsH ChuRCh May BE reTained as An AlTernaTive WORSHip sPacE, for ExampLe, or converted For OtheR PasToral Use.

OpPosiTiOn to sUppresSions
coNtroversy has ariSen iN the UniteD StAtEs oVeR the sUPpressIon Of pArishes, And over THe dIsPOSItIon of parochial asseTs AND lIabilitiEs follOWiNg SUch a chanGe.

somE bisHOPs havE intERpReted supPressiON aS eQuivaleNt To the eXtIncTioN of a pARish Under cAnon 123 (as duE to waR Or disaster), in whICh case the asseTS aND LiABiliTieS of the formeR parISh reVert TO tHe dIOcese. in mosT cASeS, However, the local CathOlIc popuLatioN was stable, and Could not be SAID to be extInct, ANd SO they should havE been DistributeD To the sucCessoR parisheS, as the ConGREgation fOr tHe CLerGy eMPHaSized in 2006 letter TO The UsCcB.

In othEr cAses, parIshIonErs HavE oBjected to The closiNg Of ChUrCheS, makiNG adminisTrAtiVe RecOurse TO the VaTican And sTaGiNG siT-in protEStS AT chuRcHeS in BOstOn, sprinGfieLD, anD WorcesTer, MassacHusETts; ALlEnTown and scranton, PennsYlVania; and SyRaCusE and BuFFAlo, New YoRk. In 2010 the Supreme Tribunal APOstolic sigNaturA, the Highest coUrt Within The cAtholiC ChurcH, overRuLed BIShops, RULiNg tHaT the closinG OF chUrcheS iN SprIngfielD, Allentown, and BuffaLO waS unnecessary aNd tHus nOT PeRmiTTeD UndEr CAnoN 1222.

sTatistics
The numBer of parisHiONeRs varies wiDEly FrOm parisH to pariSh, eveN Within tHe same dioCese, refleCtIng lOCAl dEmographicS and worsHip practiCEs. The "IDeAl" sizE paRish is A sUbjEct of Debate. aCcoRding To a stuDy By the CEnter FoR Applied research in the Apostolate, The aveRage pAriSh in the UnIteD staTes grew in Size From 2,260 parishIonErs In 2000 to 3,277 iN 2010

ThE NumbeR of pARiSheS, SimilArly, VAries wideLY fRom DIOcEse to diocesE. aS Of DEcembEr 2012 tHEre werE 221,740 parIshes, among total 456,503 paSToral centers in The wORLd. SOme STatiStIcs
 Bishop William S. Skylsta d, preside nt of  th e U ni tedStat es Conferenceo f Ca tholic Bishops:

Paris hes a re typi c al ly su ppresse d  o r mer ge dwhe nt he y bec ome  unsust ainable du e t oa decline in th e local Ca tho lic populati on.  For e xa mpl e , giv enthe o ngoing priest  shortage ,a  bisho p  may wi s h  t o re allocate clergy s e rv i ng a small par ish so  t h at t hey  ca n help ser ve  a la r ger one ,  o r a  de c line in contr ibutions ma y  ma ke upk ee p o f  a lar ge, o ld par ish churchecon omicallyimposs i ble. Th e  merger  or su ppr ess iono fapar is h  do e snot nec essarily  r eq uirethat i t s  par ish  chu rch o r other opera tio ns b e  cl osed,  howe ver.  T he fo rmer p arish  c hurch may be re tain ed as analt er nat iv e wor s hip sp ace , f or exam ple, or con ve r t e dfor other pastoral  u s e .
Opposit ion to su pp r essionsCo ntr over s y  hasaris e nin the U nitedS ta te s overth e supp re ssi onof pa r ishe s, and  over th e dis p osition of par o chial assetsa nd l ia b ilit ies  followingsuch a ch ange . 
Som e  bish ops h av e  i n terpreted suppressi on  as eq uival ent to the ex tinction o f a  parishunde r  c a non 123 (as du e towar or dis a ster), i n whi ch casethe asset s and liab ili tie s o f t h e  f ormer parishr e vert  t o the d ioc ese. In  mo stcas es,  h owever, t he local  C at ho li c p opula t ion wasst abl e,  an d cou l d notbe sa id t obe ext inct, a n ds o  the ysh ould  ha ve  been  dis t rib uted to  the succ ess o r pa ri sh es, asthe Congregat io n for theCl erg y emph a s ized in2006 letter to the USCC B .

In o the r cas es,parishion ers  haveobj e cted t o theclosi ng  of c hurch e s ,mak in g administ r a tiv e rec ou rseto theVatican and stagin g  si t-in protests  at  chu r c he s i n  B o sto n, Spr i n gfield, and Wor cester, Ma ss a ch usetts; Al l ent ow n and S cranton , Pen n sylvani a; and Sy racuse an dBuff a l o,New York.In 2010the Supre m e Tri b un al Ap ost olic S ig nat ura,the hi g hes t cou rt wit hi n theCatho li c Church , overruled bishops, ru ling t hat t heclosing o f c h urc hes in Sp ring field, All ent own , and  Bu f falowasu nn ece s saryandt hus not p e rm itt e d  u nder canon1 2 2 2.
Stat ist i cs
The  num ber of parishione r s varies widel y fr o m  pa ris h  topa rish, even wit hin  t h e  same di oc ese, reflec ting loc al demog raphic s andworship p ra c tices.  The  "i deal" siz e p ar i sh is a  s ub j ect of  deb at e. Acc ording to a s tudy by the Cent er fo r Appli e d R esear ch  in the Apos tolate, th e average p arishin t he Un ited St at es gre w i nsize from2 ,260 pari shion ers in20 00 t o 3 ,277 i n 20 1 0 

The  num be r o f parishe s ,  s i mi la r ly,  var ies w id elyfrom dioc e se to di oce s e. As o fDec e m ber 20 1 2t h ere were 2 21, 740 p a r ishes, amo n g to t al 456,5 03 pas toralcenters inth e world . S o m e statist ics
 Bishop_William S._Skylstad, president of the_United States_Conference_of Catholic_Bishops:

Parishes_are typically suppressed_or merged when_they become unsustainable due_to a decline_in_the local Catholic population. For example, given the ongoing priest shortage, a bishop may_wish_to reallocate_clergy_serving_a small parish so that_they can help serve a_larger one,_or a decline in contributions may make upkeep_of_a large, old_parish church economically impossible. The merger or suppression of_a parish does not necessarily require_that its parish_church_or_other operations be closed,_however. The former parish church may_be retained as an alternative worship_space, for example, or converted for other_pastoral use.

Opposition to suppressions
Controversy has arisen_in the United States over_the suppression_of parishes, and over the_disposition of parochial_assets and_liabilities following such_a change.

Some bishops have interpreted suppression_as equivalent to_the extinction of a parish under_canon_123 (as due_to_war_or disaster),_in which case_the_assets and_liabilities_of the former parish revert to_the_diocese. In most cases, however, the local_Catholic population was stable,_and_could not be said_to be extinct, and so_they should have been distributed to_the successor_parishes, as_the Congregation for the Clergy emphasized in 2006 letter to the_USCCB.

In other cases, parishioners have objected_to the closing of_churches, making_administrative_recourse to the_Vatican_and staging_sit-in protests at churches in Boston, Springfield,_and Worcester,_Massachusetts; Allentown and Scranton, Pennsylvania; and_Syracuse and Buffalo, New_York._In 2010 the Supreme Tribunal Apostolic_Signatura, the highest court within the_Catholic Church, overruled bishops, ruling_that_the_closing of churches in Springfield,_Allentown, and Buffalo was unnecessary and_thus not permitted_under canon 1222.

Statistics
The number of parishioners varies_widely_from parish to parish, even within_the_same diocese, reflecting local demographics and_worship_practices._The "ideal" size parish is_a subject of debate. According to_a study by the Center for Applied Research in_the Apostolate, the_average parish in the United_States_grew_in size from 2,260 parishioners in 2000 to 3,277 in_2010

The number_of parishes, similarly,_varies widely from diocese to diocese. As of December 2012_there were 221,740 parishes, among total 456,503_pastoral centers in the world. Some statistics