Cleveland bishop to reopen 12 parishes
April 17, 2012, 12:45 pm
Posted by Paul Moses
Saying that it’s time for “peace and unity” in his diocese, Cleveland’s Bishop Richard Lennon has announced that he will reopen 12 churches he’d closed. Lennon, who closed the churches in 2009 and 2010, was responding to a ruling from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy. He could have appealed that decision, which would have meant dragging out the matter for years more.
It seems Peter Bore is moving on to Philly’s reorganization – wonder what wil happen with his approach and Abp. Chaput?
Closings are almost always do to the shortage of suitable pastors. With 17,000 married deacons there is no reason except stubbornness to not allow two or three deacons to ‘shepherd’ a to-be-closed parish. A parish with a number of parishioners that would gladden the hearts of any Protestant minister. A South African bishop has proposed such a solution.
Many dioceses have taken the intelligent step of having a titular ordained pastor and a pracitcla pastor in the person of a Pastoral Associate/Assistant. These PAs are more often than not women, either religious or increasingly non-religious lay women.
One doesn’t need a male to run a parish!
I’m from Cleveland. This is great news!!
Wasn’t part of the reason for the closures financial. How will this work once the parishes re-open?
In my parish in Columbus we have inherited a number of saint statues from the closed parishes, will they have to be returned? I’m thinking the churches might want their sacred objects back.
Bp. Lennon may have read about himself in Jason Berry’s “Render unto Rome” (2011) and decided that an up-and-coming prelate could use a bit of image improvement. His work in Boston and Cleveland over the past decade has faced complicated challenges, and his handling of some led to much contention, described in depth by Berry.
One indication of results is suggested in Lennon’s oddly revealing announcement in July 2011 that a Vatican visitor was expected: “While I am confident that I am faithfully handling the responsibilities entrusted to me, I personally made this request [for a Vatican visitor] earlier this year because a number of persons have written to Rome expressing their concerns about my leadership of the Diocese.”
http://dioceseofcleveland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1570:bishop-lennon-requests-diocesan-visit&catid=109:news-of-the-diocese&Itemid=81
The Cleveland Plain Dealer finds the news very heartwarming.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/04/12_churches_revived_but_challe.html
Ecclesiastical Sweetness and Light after being slapped down by One’s Betters.
Happens every time in the Upwardly Mobile.
I’m glad St. Barbara’s will survive, at least for a while.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/03/a_celebratory_mass_at_st_colma.html