The Vatican Signatura has ruled that a bishop, acting on what he believes to be good for his entire diocese, can close any parish, even if the parish is financially stable and has a solid, active membership. “This is very significant,” said Peter Borre, a Catholic activist in Boston who represents ten churches in that city in their appeals to Rome, The Plain Dealer reports.
“The message is: ‘No parish is safe.’”
A spokesman for the Cleveland diocese, which plans many parish closures, said that no one at the diocese had seen the Vatican ruling and had no comment.
The ruling, made public late last week when it was translated from the original Latin, came on the heels of the Vatican denying the appeals of all 10 Boston churches, which began that process six years ago.
Meanwhile, at least five Cleveland area parishes that closed this year received letters from a Vatican judicial panel last week saying it needed more time to consider their appeals and extended the hearing deadlines to Nov. 30.
SIC: CTHAS