CLEVELAND (AP) — The Roman Catholic bishop in Cleveland says a priest who ministers to a breakaway congregation has been excommunicated.
A statement from Bishop Richard Lennon says the penalty is meant to encourage the Rev. Robert Marrone to reconcile with the church and doesn't mean he's no longer a member.
Marrone began celebrating Mass for former parishioners of St. Peter Catholic Church in a new space after the church closed in 2010 amid downsizing by the diocese. It reopened last year.
Lennon says Marrone is defying church authority by leading the breakaway group and has refused to reconcile.
Frank Titus of Lyndhurst is part of Marrone's group and tells The Plain Dealer newspaper the bishop's decision saddens him but isn't surprising.
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