CLEVELAND (AP) — The last of 11 churches closed by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese and later spared by the Vatican is planning its reopening.
A parishioner tells The Plain Dealer (http://bit.ly/XjgP6A ) that Cleveland's St. Emeric will likely reopen the first Sunday in November.
Bishop Richard Lennon says the church also will be getting its former priest back.
The 10 other churches already have reopened in the Cleveland area.
The 11 churches were among 50 closed or merged by the bishop because of declining congregations, finances and priests. Parishioners from the churches appealed the closings to a Vatican panel, which upheld their appeals.
Lennon announced in April that he would not challenge Vatican decrees declaring he didn't follow proper procedures in closing the parishes.
___
Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com
