HELP! They're Closing Down New Orleans Parishes

I'm a "friend" of sorts of Poppy Z. Brite--that is, I read her blog on LiveJournal and occasionally comment on the fan journals.  I've been a reader since 2004, but truly got caught up in her life after Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levees destroyed much of New Orleans in 2005.

Poppy's turned her considerable writing skills to defending New Orleans.  She's chronicled her and her husband's struggles to get their lives back on track after "Heckuva Job" Brownie and FEMA finished ruining what the floodwaters didn't finish off.  Anyone who's read her work can tell you that her love for New Orleans and its culture is as deep and honest as any you'll find.

Recently, she posted this on her blog:

RUMOR MILL IN OVERDRIVE...BUT THIS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY SEVERAL SOURCES.

Word is leaking out that Archbishop Hughes will be informing dozens of parishes on April 9 that they will cease to exist by the end of 2008...even though many of these parishes, including Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and St. Henry's Church, are vibrant, self-sufficient communities.

BUT BE WARNED...Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Henry's are not the only churches slated for closure. Yours could be too. And the Archbishop and his chief architects of this plan, including Fr. Michael Jacques, are refusing to meet with parishoners to explain their rationale for the ax they intend to wield on April 9.

THE EXCUSE OF A PRIEST SHORTAGE IS A RUSE. Most of these parishes are self-sufficient and have adequate staffing for masses. Most of these parishes have active ministries. But Archbishop Hughes is not just moving to close these churches, but also petitioning Rome that they cease to be recognized as communities. Our Lady of Good Counsel has existed since the 1800s. Your church may be just as old.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. Contact:
Archbishop Alfred Hughes
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
504.861-9521

DON'T SIT IDLY BY. Your church belongs to you!

If any of you have friends or family in New Orleans, or if you know of ways to help, then I beg you, please, do so.  The people of New Orleans have lost homes, communities, and neighbors; now, it seems as if many of the poor parishes are going to lose their churches as well.

There's not much time.  Godspeed.

ETA:  Poppy has kindly informed me that one New Orleans parish, St. Augustine's, was saved by parishioner protest!  The archdiocese's word isn't always final, especially if they fear getting bad publicity.  All the more reason to try to get this word out if we can!