BISHOP Richard Lennon Says He Will Reopen 12 Churches That Won Vatican Appeal

By Michael O'Malley
Plain Dealer
April 16, 2012

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/04/bishop_richard_lennon_says_he.html

Bishop Richard Lennon this morning announced that he will reopen 12 churches whose closings were reversed by the Vatican last month.

The 12 parishes had filed appeals with the Vatican after Lennon, between 2009 and 2010, closed 50 churches in the eight-county diocese, citing changes in demographics and shortages of priests and cash.

Originally, reports indicated that there were 13 churches that had won appeals. But Lennon said this morning that only 12 had won.

Lennon said that he had decided not to appeal the Vatican rulings, adding that "it is time for peace and unity in the Diocese of Cleveland."

Maureen Bihn hugs a parishioner of St. Casimir Catholic Church on East 82nd Street and Sowinski Avenue Wednesday, March 7, 2012, after arriving at a vigil in front of the church. Church members heard the news they won the appeal to keep the church open in Cleveland. The locks may be removed soon and the church doors opened as St. Casimir -- along with 12 other closed Catholic churches in the diocese -- won their appeal to stay open.

The 12 churches had appealed to the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy, arguing they were vibrant, self-sustaining parishes that should not be closed. The panel ruled that he did not follow church laws and procedures when he closed the churches.

The churches have been standing empty since their closings. The diocese, which has sold a number of closed churches, could not, under church law, sell a church or its contents while it was under appeal.

Lennon received official word of the Vatican decrees on March 14 and had 60 days to decide whether to appeal to the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's supreme court.

He said he decided not to appeal after consulting with clergy, laity and experts in church law.

Lennon said the churches that appealed were St. Adalbert, St. Barbara, St. Casimir, St. Emeric, St. Peter, St. Patrick (West Park) and St. Wendelin, all in Cleveland; St. James in Lakewood; St. Mary in Bedford; St. Mary in Lorain; and St. John the Baptist and St. Mary, all in Akron.