Pope Posterizes Bishop Lennon; 13 Dead Churches Rejoice

By Erich Burnett
Cleveland Scene
March 8, 2012

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/03/08/pope-posterizes-bishop-lennon-13-dead-churches-rejoice

The Feast of St. Patrick has come early for a 159-year-old parish on Rocky River Drive and 12 others across the Cleveland area that had been deemed needless by Bishop Richard Lennon, head of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.

News trickled out from Rome Wednesday afternoon that Pope Benedict XVI has overturned the closing of 13 churches, part of a diocese-wide downsizing led by Lennon in 2009 and 2010. In almost each case, the displaced congregation — including St. Patrick in West Park — was instrumental in making sure the Vatican heard its pleas; some, including St. Casimir on the East Side, have held weekly vigils since their church was enshrouded in chain-link fence.

Among the churches across Cleveland and Akron given a new lease:

St. James in Lakewood

St. Patrick in West Park

St. Adalbert

St. Barbara

St. Emeric

St. Peter

St. Margaret Mary of Euclid

St. Casimir

St. Wendelin

St. Mary of Bedford

St. John the Baptist of Akron

St. Martha of Akron

St. Mary of Akron

According to coverage in The Plain Dealer, the Vatican struck down Lennon’s ruling on both procedural and substantive grounds, meaning a do-over of the closure proceedings won’t likely be enough to keep the lights off. What the ruling means for actual reopening of the shuttered parishes remains to be seen; parishioners were seen gathering on parish steps across town in jubilant celebration as evening settled in on Wednesday.

Lennon, currently on the second leg of his Pissin’ Off America! U.S. tour, also faced criticism for closing churches in Boston, his most recent stop on the Badwill Express.

Handed the ruling yesterday, the Bishop now has the opportunity to appeal his case. A champion of old-time Catholic smugness, Lennon is expected to review the Vatican’s decision this morning; no word yet on whether an announcement will be forthcoming.

Diocesan spokesman Robert Tayek could not be reached for comment.

Stay tuned for 10 Hail Marys and further updates as they develop.