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Vatican Overrules Bishop Who Closed 13 Parishes

By Michael O’Malley
Columbus Dispatch
March 9, 2012

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/faith_and_values/2012/03/09/vatican-overrules-bishop-who-closed-13-parishes.html

CLEVELAND — Bishop Richard Lennon of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese did not follow church law or procedures when he closed St. Patrick Church in the city’s West Park neighborhood nearly two years ago, according to a Vatican decree.

The decree was publicly disclosed yesterday at a news conference held by St. Patrick parishioners, who had appealed to the Vatican when Lennon closed the church.

The decree, which reversed Lennon’s decision, was emailed to St. Patrick parishioners by their lawyer in Rome on Wednesday. Twelve other northeastern Ohio parishes also won their appeals, but most are awaiting official word from Rome.

The St. Patrick decree said Lennon improperly issued the closing order and did not consult with the Presbyteral Council, a local panel of diocesan priests, as required by church law when closing a church.

 

 

 

 

 




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