saved!

In 2009 the Diocese of Cleveland announced that they would be closing more than 50 area churches by 2010 - St. James of Lakewood was among those churches.

Thirteen of these churches did not take the news lightly or quietly and appealed to the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy. On March 1st the a decree was issued in favor of the churches stating that the Bishop Richard Lennon did not properly follow church law when he ordered the churches closed. The Bishop stated that he received copies of the decrees on March 14th and "The process to review these rulings will now be undertaken with my advisors." Hmmmm, that seems as if Lennon isn't jumping to attention.

On March 8th, the Friends of St. James received a copy of the legal document to re-open St. James, to read the document, along with other related news, visit the Save St. James website here.

According to a recent article in the Plain Dealer, an activist working on behalf of the churches hopes that the churches will reopen by April 1st, which according to this year's liturgical calendar is Palm Sunday.

In addition to St. James the other churches which may re-open are: St. Adalbert, St. Barbara, St. Casimir, St. Emeric, St. Patrick, St. Peter and St. Wendelin, all of Cleveland; St. Mary in Bedford; St. Margaret Mary in South Euclid; and St. John the Baptist, St. Martha and St. Mary, all in Akron.