Bishop Richard Lennon to Hold 10 A.m. News Conference on Church Closings

By Michael Sangiacomo
Plain Dealer
April 17, 2012

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/04/bishop_lennon_to_hold_10_am_ne.html

Cleveland Catholic Diocese Bishop Richard Lennon celebrates mass at St. John Cathedral Easter morning.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bishop Richard Lennon of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. to discuss his next move in the controversial closing of churches in the diocese.

The news conference will take place at the Cathedral of St. John, 1007 Superior Ave.

Parishioners of 13 churches -- among 50 churches Lennon closed between 2009 and 2010 as part of a financially driven downsizing of the diocese -- appealed their closings to Rome, arguing that they were self-sustaining parishes that should not have been shuttered.

Last month, a Vatican tribunal ruled in favor of the parishioners, saying Lennon had violated procedures and church law when he padlocked the 13 sanctuaries and dissolved or merged their parishes.

It is unknown what Lennon will announce this morning, but he has three options: He can appeal the ruling, reopen the churches or start the closing process again.