Akron parishioners stage protest at church closing

AKRON, Ohio -- Protesters tried to stop the closing of a Roman Catholic church in Akron celebrating its last mass as part of a diocesan restructuring.

About a dozen people gathered after the final Mass at St. John the Baptist Church Saturday and held a vigil for about two hours.   

The protesters stayed until Akron police told them they would be arrested if they didn't leave the church.   

The group included many people from other parishes affected by a plan to close 50 Roman Catholic churches in northeast Ohio.    The protesters said the decision to close St. John and merge it with another church was shortsighted and illogical.   

St. John the Baptist is scheduled to merge with Annunciation church a few miles away and form a new parish called Visitation of Mary.