BOSTON -- It's another piece of the fallout from the clergy sex abuse scandal.

It was a tense morning for parishioners at Catholic churches across the Boston area as the Boston Archdiocese announced a list of churches that will be closed as part of a consolidation plan. The restructuring comes amid shrinking attendance at Mass, and smaller weekly collections -- caused partly by the sex abuse scandal.

Churches started receiving letters Tuesday from Archbishop Sean O'Malley (pictured, left) indicating whether the parish will be closed. Of the 357 churches in the Boston Archdiocese, 143 churches were on a list as recommended for closure, but less then half of them will close. It will be the largest sale of church property in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States.

"As a result of this process, there will be 65 less parishes, which translates into the closing of 60 churches since five will continue as worship sites," O'Malley said.

O'Malley said the archdiocese must close the churches because of dwindling Mass attendance, fewer donations, a shortage of priests and aging buildings that would cost millions to repair or renovate. He said that more than one-third of the parishes were operating in the red.

"I want to assure the people of the archdiocese that the decision to close parishes is in no way connected with the need to finance the legal settlement with the victims of clergy sexual abuse. The sale of the Brighton property of the former archbishop's residences and surrounding land has raised the $90 million needed to do so. No money from the future sale of parish assets will be used to pay for the settlement," O'Malley said.

CHURCH SCANDALS Key Revisions To Abuse Policy Timeline For Boston Archdiocese Should Celibacy Be Optional?

The clergy sex abuse scandal began more than two years ago and has contributed to financial problems plaguing the archdiocese. Church officials reached an $85 million agreement last fall to settle lawsuits filed by more than 500 victims of clergy sex abuse.

Earlier, parishioners at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Mass., learned their church was closing in a letter from O'Malley. The Rev. Stephen Josoma read the letter to parishioners at the church Tuesday morning.

"After careful consideration and an extensive process of review, I am writing to inform you that I have decided that St. Susanna Parish must close," Josoma read as several parishioners cried.

Parishioners at dozens of churches have been waiting months to find out if they will definitely be losing their church. At St. Susanna's, some wept, and others expressed feelings of anger.

"I will not give one dime anymore to the archdiocese," one parishioner said. "They can't manage people. They can't manage money. It's all messed up."

As he announced the closings, O'Malley urged parishioners not to be angry with the church.

"I am asking the Catholics of the archdiocese to lay aside their anger and disappointment, to cast off their sadness and join hands with brothers and sisters across the archdiocese," he said.

The words, however, did little to soothe some angry parishioners.

"Today, I personally feel betrayed -- betrayed by the Catholic Church," another parishioner said.

At St. Susanna's, and the church property paid off, there was talk about breaking away from the archdiocese.

"I say let's be independent," another parishioner said.

At the Dedham church, there was talk of dirty politics and a payback for a letter that the current pastor signed calling for Bernard Cardinal Law's resignation in 2002.

"I think there were 54 priests that signed the letter asking for Cardinal Law to resign, and he did about two weeks later," Josoma said.

Josoma said he was not sure if his signing the letter had anything to do with the decision to close the church he has been serving as pastor.

Sacred Heart Church, in Lexington, Mass., Saint Augustine in South Boston, and Immaculate Conception, in Cambridge, Mass., also confirmed that they will be closed after receiving letters from church officials.

Church officials said the archdiocese tried to take a number of factors into consideration when deciding which churches would close, including weekly Mass attendance and revenues.

"At every step of the process we took great care not to place the burden of reconfiguration on the backs of the poor. We have tried to distribute closings across all regions of the archdiocese so that we shall be able to ensure the Church's presence in all areas of the archdiocese in the future, especially in the inner city and in rural areas," O'Malley said.

Church Bells Ring At Parishes Staying Open

The mood was happier at a church in Lynn, Mass., however, where parishioners said that their prayers were answered. At the Holy Family church, the congregation reacted with relief and joy when they found out their church would remain open.

"Thank God for little favors and prayers. I believe in prayers," one parishioner said.

Lynn had three churches on the list for possible closings.

"I do want them to know that I did make baptism, first communion, confirmation, my wedding and, hopefully, now I'll be buried here," another parishioner said.

There is an appeals process for churches targeted for closure. They can appeal on procedural grounds to the archbishop and after that all the way to the Vatican.

The Rev. Richard Lennon said parishioners may write letters appealing to O'Malley if they are unhappy with the church's decision to close their church.

"The archbishop, in turn, would have so many days to respond. If the response is not to the liking of the petitioner, then they can have recourse to the congregation of clergy in Rome," Lennon said.