Skip to main content
Sojourners
faith in action for social justice
Sojourners
About
About SojournersEventsOur TeamWork With UsMediaWays to GiveInvite a SpeakerContact Us
SojoAction
OverviewTake ActionIssue AreasResourcesFaith-Rooted AdvocatesChurch Engagement
Magazine
Current IssueArchivesManage My SubscriptionWrite for Sojourners
Sections
LatestPoliticsColumnsLiving FaithArts & CultureGlobalPodcastsVideoPreaching The Word
Subscribe
MagazineRenewPreaching the WordCustomer ServiceNewsletters
Donate
Login / Register

Cleveland Bishop Has 60 Days to Appeal Church Closures

By Michael O'Malley
Cleveland church photo, Jennifer Stone, Shutterstock.com
Cleveland church photo, Jennifer Stone, Shutterstock.com
Mar 16, 2012
Share

CLEVELAND--Bishop Richard Lennon on Wednesday (March 14) received the official Vatican decrees that overturn his closings of 13 Catholic parishes, the diocese said, kicking off a 60-day period for him to decide whether to appeal.

"The process to review these rulings will now be undertaken with my advisers," the bishop wrote in a three-sentence statement posted on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland's website.

The 13 churches -- out of 50 closed between 2009 and 2010 in a diocesewide downsizing -- had appealed to the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy, arguing they were self-sustaining communities that shouldn't be closed.

On March 7, word got out that the Vatican ruled in favor of all 13 parishes, saying Lennon did not follow church law and procedures when he shuttered them.

The rulings, released by Boston activist Peter Borre who has been fighting church closings nationwide, prompted jubilation by parishioners who organized prayer vigils and rallies outside their padlocked sanctuaries.

As the bishop closed churches, the diocese put them on the market. But under canon law, the 13 churches with pending appeals could not be sold, so the diocese secured the sanctuaries and kept their properties maintained.

Borre has said that even if Lennon appeals, the Vatican decrees stand in the meantime, and Lennon cannot deny parishioners access to their mothballed churches.

Michael O'Malley writes for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. Via RNS.

Cleveland church photo, Jennifer Stone, Shutterstock.com

Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!

Tell Us What You Think!

We value your feedback on the articles we post. Please fill out the form below, and a member of our online publication team will receive your message. By submitting this form, you consent to your comment being featured in our Letters section. 

Please do not include any non-text characters, such as emojis or other non-standard content, into your submission.  It may cause errors in submitting the form.  Thanks!

Don't Miss a Story!

Sojourners is committed to faith and justice even in polarized times. Will you join us on the journey?
Confirm Your Email Address.
By entering your email we'll send you our newsletter each Thursday. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Cleveland church photo, Jennifer Stone, Shutterstock.com
Search Sojourners

Subscribe

Magazine Newsletters Preaching The Word
Follow on Facebook Follow on Bluesky Follow on Instagram Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Sojourners
Donate Products Editorial Policies Privacy Policy

Media

Advertising Press

Opportunities

Careers Fellowship Program

Contact

Office
408 C St. NE
Washington DC, 20002
Phone 202-328-8842
Fax 202-328-8757
Email sojourners@sojo.net
Unless otherwise noted, all material © Sojourners 2025