BishopAccountability.org
	Could Vatican Ruling in Boston Affect Outcome of Appeal of Cleveland Churches? WEWS July 20, 2010 http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/could-vatican-ruling-in-boston-affect-outcome-of-appeal-of-cleveland-churches%3F [with video] The Vatican's highest court of law has ruled that a Catholic bishop acting on what he believes to be good for his entire diocese can close any parish, even if the parish is financially stable and has a solid and active membership. The Vatican ruling is in response to a church in Boston's appeal to stay open. It could be significant in the battle to keep some Cleveland churches open. Fifty Cleveland Catholic churches were closed as part of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese downsizing plan. Fourteen of those churches are now under appeal in Rome.A Last week, six of those churches received letters from a Vatican panel saying it needed more time to consider their appeals and extended the hearing deadlines until Nov. 30.A Even with the denial of the appeal in Boston, Pat Schulte-Singleton has not given up hope. She is the president of the group called Endangered Catholics and she is also a member of Saint Patrick church, one of the area churches that closed. "Yes, it's a little disheartening that any church could be closed, but in Cleveland we are hopeful," Schulte-Singleton said. Doris Donnelly is a professor of theology at John Carroll University.A She said the Vatican has never completely overturned a bishops decision, but that that doesn't mean that it couldn't happen. The Boston churches made it to the highest level at the Vatican, The Apostolic Signatura.A The Cleveland churches have not yet reached that level in Rome.A The Boston churches appeal process started six years ago.
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