Sunday, May 19, 2013

Cleveland Catholic bishop and breakaway congregation continue talks

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/images/stories/colorshield_transparent.pngTalks continue between Bishop Richard Lennon of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and representatives of the Community of St. Peter, a congregation that left the diocese after the bishop closed their church. 
 
The two sides met earlier this month to discuss the community's secession and the setting up of its own worship space in a renovated warehouse, actions that led to the excommunication in March of the group's pastor, the Rev. Robert Marrone.

During the 11/2-hour meeting on May 3, Lennon told the representatives -- members of the community's board of trustees -- that Catholic worship outside the authority of the diocese is a violation of church teachings, according to a report of the meeting in the community's recent newsletter.

Trustees and the bishop agreed to keep details of the meeting private. But The Plain Dealer obtained a copy of the newsletter sent to update members of the congregation.

The report quoted Lennon as saying, "joining in the liturgy at the community is not evil, but it is not an act in union with the Catholic church and was outside the authority of the bishop."

The bishop, according to the report, continued, "in Catholic theology, communion with the bishop is vital as the bishop is the direct successor of the Apostles."

The newsletter reported that the trustees were presenting the bishop's statements to the community for feedback and a collective response to the bishop sometime in June. No date has been set for the next meeting with Lennon.

The meeting was the first between Lennon and the trustees since he closed their church, St. Peter Catholic Church, in downtown Cleveland in 2010 as part of a diocesewide downsizing.

That same year, Marrone and more than 300 St. Peter's parishioners, determined to stay together and keep their priest, set up a nonprofit group, the Community of St. Peter, and rented commercial space in a century-old building on Euclid Avenue at East 71st Street.

They have been celebrating Sunday Mass, baptisms and other sacraments in the space since then, despite warnings from Lennon that their salvation was at stake.

About five months after the breakaway church formed, Lennon threatened Marrone with punishment through church law, saying he must cease his unauthorized Masses and resign from the community.

http://media.cleveland.com/plain_dealer_metro/photo/12735948-large.jpgFaced with remaining faithful to his congregation or to his bishop, Marrone wrote to Lennon: "It is my decision to remain in my present position with the Community of St. Peter."

When Marrone read the letter during a Mass, the congregation of more than 300 jumped to its feet in applause and shouts of "Bravo!"
 
In March, Lennon declared Marrone excommunicated, saying "Father Marrone's recent actions have been in direct defiance of the church's teachings and authority." 

Marrone did not publicly respond to the bishop's declaration. He could not be reached Monday to discuss the meeting between his board and Lennon. A spokesman for the diocese had said earlier that the bishop would not talk publicly about the meeting.

In his excommunication edict, Lennon referred to Marrone's congregation as "a group which has separated itself from the governance of the Diocese of Cleveland."

But community members dispute that and take issue with being described as a breakaway community.

During the meeting with Lennon one trustee told the bishop, "We are not a breakaway community, but rather a thrown-away community," the newsletter said. "We do not have dispute with Catholic doctrine or teaching."