LAKEWOOD (OH)
WTAM

(Lakewood) – 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 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.

Fourteen parishes are still for sale. Some sales were put on hold by parishioner appeals to the Vatican to keep churches open.