6 shut churches may be sold

Two other closed churches, in Everett and Framingham, will continue as houses of worship, O’Malley announced.

The fate of closed churches has been a source of painful dispute between Catholics and their archdiocese. Angry parishioners have fought the closings, taking their case to the highest authorities at the Vatican. The Vatican appeals were rejected last year.

O’Malley is asking protesters to accept that it is finally time to move on.

“He would ask the faithful to respect his decision, and in areas where there are vigils, that there would be a peaceful conclusion,’’ said the Rev. Arthur M. Coyle, the cardinal’s liaison for the long process to prepare the churches for sale.

But some protesters promised to fight on.

“I can’t respect that decision,’’ said Marsha Devir, a protester on duty yesterday at St. Frances Cabrini. Vigil-keepers have equipped the church for continuous occupation with beds in spare rooms, as well as easy chairs and a television in the vestibule. Though the parish ceased operations in 2004, the church’s lawn is mowed, the flower gardens are well tended, and the stained glass windows still glow brightly.

But there are signs of how much time has passed. The fonts reserved for holy water hold nothing but dust.

The group fighting to reopen the church, the Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini, pledged in a statement yesterday to pursue appeals.

Devir said she would keep vigil until she “gets pulled out of here by the police.’’

The other churches covered by the decree, effective Monday, are St. James the Great in Wellesley; St. Jeanne D’Arc in Lowell; Star of the Sea in Quincy; Our Lady of Lourdes in Revere; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in East Boston. Vigils have been ongoing in Wellesley and East Boston.