Rome Reversal: Vatican Overrules 13 Cleveland Parish Closures

WOIO
March 7, 2012

http://www.woio.com/story/17103699/attorney-vatican-overrules-13-cleveland-parish-closures

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

Council of Parishes Attorney Peter Borre tells 19 Action News that the Vatican has overruled 13 parish closures in Cleveland, Ohio.

"All Cleveland Catholic churches who appealed their closures have won" said Borre in a phone interview Wednesday.

As the news spread, people began gathering outside the closed churches.

"Oh this is the best news, I couldn't have wished for anything more," said Micky Rinhart, Former St James Parishioner.

The Vatican ruled that Bishop Richard Lennon failed to follow proper procedures.

In 2010 Lennon closed or merged 50 churches. Only 13 are affected by this ruling because they appealed to the Vatican.

"It's kind of a Hallaleujah day. I hope they open the church for Easter, that would be great."

The Cleveland Diocese has not commented on the Vatican's ruling, so we don't know if the churches will be re-opened. But according to the attorney representing the churches, after this ruling, by Cannon Law, Catholics should now have immediate access to the 13 closed churches.

Peter Koran and his family attended St. James for 42 years until they closed it in June of 2010. today's news that it might reopen was like a gift from heaven.

"Wow, something good has come here today," said Peter Koran.

"Thank you Lord, our prayers have been answered!" said a former parishioner.

[Click here to view the complete list of church closures, merges.]

According to Attorney Peter Borre, eight of the 13 Cleveland Catholic Diocese parishes who appealed their closures/merges are listed below:

ST. ADALBERT

2347 E. 83RD ST. CLEVELAND

ST. BARBARA

CLEVELAND

ST. EMERIC

1890 W. 22ND ST. CLEVELAND

ST. PETER

1533 E. 17TH ST. CLEVELAND

ST. JAMES

17514 DETROIT AVE. LAKEWOOD

ST. PATRICK

CLEVELAND

ST. CASIMIR

8223 SOWINSKI AVE. CLEVELAND

ST. WENDELIN

CLEVELAND

This story is developing, stay with 19 Action News and 19actionnews.com for the latest details as they become available.