Cleveland, Ohio, Apr 17, 2012 / 23:20 pm
Following a ruling from the Vatican, Bishop Richard G. Lennon of Cleveland has announced he will reopen 12 parishes closed in 2009 and 2010, a move he says will stretch the diocese’s resources.
“I now say, it’s time for peace and unity in the Diocese of Cleveland. More than ever, this is a time for all Catholics to come together with God’s help and strive to strengthen our diocesan church’s serving the pastoral and spiritual needs of all the faithful,” Bishop Lennon said at an April 17 news conference at Cleveland’s Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
The bishop said he will not appeal the rulings from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy that reversed his decisions to close the parishes.
“Doing so would prolong the process a number of years and would create more uncertainty and continue to divide our Catholic family,” he said. “We will work with the priests and parishioners as they re-establish their parishes.”