CLEVELAND (OH)
WHIO

The Associated Press

CLEVELAND —

The Roman Catholic bishop of Cleveland says the sale of 26 closed churches has netted more than $19 million that will be allocated to other parishes.

The buyers include non-Catholic congregations, a drug-rehab center and charter schools.

Bishop Richard Lennon reported on the sales in a weekend newsletter distributed at churches and at a news conference Monday.

He says about $5 million of the sale proceeds went to closing expenses and to pay shuttered parishes’ debts. Nearly $8 million went to other parishes and charity.