Reopening of Closed Catholic Churches: A Reason for Celebration

Yesterday it became official: 12 Catholic churches that appealed their closing by Bishop Richard Lennon will reopen. This is an astonishing turn around, totally unexpected when you think of the power of a bishop in the Catholic Church. Three parishes that I cared most about, St. Peter in Cleveland (right near Cleveland State--about 18th and Superior), St. James in Lakewood, and St. Patrick in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland, will all reopen before the end of the year. This is the result of hard work and considerable prayer. Some smart people must have understood Vatican procedures and Canon Law to get these closings overturned.

This is good for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, for the City of Cleveland, and for the Greater Cleveland area. It is also good for the Catholic church in America and around the world.

We can hope that there is reconciliation, understanding, and forgiveness for Bishop Lennon's actions of past years. Many will be quick to forgive and forget; but for me it's going to take a while!

The Vatican Overrules Bishop Lennon on the Closing of 13 Churches in Cleveland

We got preliminary word last night that the Vatican has overruled Bishop Lennon on the closing of 13 churches in the Diocese of Cleveland. The first churches I heard about are the historic and beautiful St. Patrick's, in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland, and St. James, in the suburb of Lakewood.

This is astonishing good news! We'll see what other churches are involved and how this plays out. Will the bishop appeal this decision or reopen the churches? We shall see.