By Michael O'Malley
Plain Dealer
June 15, 2011
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/06/catholic_diocese_of_cleveland_1.html
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| Cleveland Catholic Diocese Bishop Richard Lennon |
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland kicked off a capital campaign Wednesday, aiming to raise $125 million over the next year and a half.
The money will be used to shore up the physical operations of the 164-year-old diocese so that it can effectively serve the spiritual needs of the about 750,000 Catholics throughout its eight-county region.
"This is truly a historic effort," Bishop Richard Lennon told a gathering at Holy Name Catholic Church in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood. "We are asking every Catholic household to make an investment in the present and future of our church.
"These gifts will be responsibly invested, our gifts to our children and our grandchildren."
The money will be pumped into parishes, schools and various programs so that the missions of the church -- evangelization, education and social services -- can continue to operate effectively. That could mean spending on projects ranging from refurbishing pews to updating classroom computers.
None of the money will go toward legal costs associated with clergy sex abuse cases, said honorary campaign co-chair Eva Dolan, part of the family that owns the Cleveland Indians.
Lennon said that a "quiet" phase of the campaign began last year when nine parishes were asked to raise $10 million as part of a pilot program. Their efforts, he said to applause, brought in $13.2 million.
With additional pledges from private donors, the bishop said, the "Rooted in Faith -- Forward in Hope" campaign's total is now over $30 million.
Lennon acknowledged the poor state of the regional economy and his closing of 50 churches over the last two years as part of the diocese's downsizing. "Through it all," he said, "our Catholic community has gone forward."
The nine parishes that led the way in fundraising are: The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland; Immaculate Conception in Willoughby; Ss. Robert and William in Euclid; Our Lady of Peace in Cleveland; Holy Name in Cleveland; St. Angela Merici in Fairview Park; St. Basil in Brecksville; St. Mary in Elyria and St. Vincent in Akron.
The Catholic Community Foundation will manage and administer the campaign for the diocese.
The campaign targets five key initiatives:
• Revitalizing parish life, ($37.5 million).
• Strengthening the Catholic faith, ($15 million).
• Ensuring access to a Catholic education, including tuition assistance ($40 million).
• Support for seminarian education, priest training and care for retired clergy, ($25 million).
• Ministering to the needy, ($7.5 million).
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