One Year Later: An Open Letter to Bishop Lennon

March 14, 2010

Father Robert T. Begin
St. Colman Church
2027 West 65th St.
Cleveland, Ohio, 44102

Dear Bishop Lennon,

It is a year now that has passed since March 14th, 2009, when you announced the closings and mergers of many parishes throughout the inner cities and inner ring suburbs of the Diocese. Our priests have been publicly silent. Many of our priests know that thousands of good and loyal people are suffering injury, hurt and an ensuing anger not unlike the anger Jesus himself felt when he confronted the misuse of authority by the leaders of his time. Many priests are hurting as well. Many are angry. Morale is not good.

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Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
By Michael O'Malley, The Plain Dealer
March 12, 2010, 11:10PM
A Catholic priest who saved his church from closing last year by convincing Bishop Richard Lennon to change his mind, is now publicly challenging the bishop on the closings of other churches.
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3/27/2010 10:30:45 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
There are many holy men in the Catholic Church, but Bishop Lennon is certainly not one of them. He is supposed to be a spiritual leader in this diocese. Instead he is nothing more than a financial henchman who is

3/27/2010 5:46:10 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Mr. Clemens, I acknowledge and am grateful for the many Catholics like yourself who have a genuine devotion to our church and work hard toward making it a vibrant and welcoming place to worship. Unfortunately, Richard Lennon is not one

3/27/2010 5:34:21 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Jeremy123, You may need to do more research on Bishop Lennon. He is not a good guy who has a hard job to do. You are giving him credit that he does not deserve. He is corrupt and self-promoting. He

3/19/2010 11:42:41 AM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Fr. "Bob" another liberal rebel priest in our diocese. No one wants to see our Churches close, Nor do we want any liberal modernist clergy, including the habitless new age "nuns" working within OUR Church!

3/17/2010 3:14:08 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Are you kidding, do I agree with the decision that the cluster team decided - not. Not one of the parishes that stayed open had the number of ministries that St. Procop had going on. St. Procop provided food to

3/17/2010 12:24:54 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Fr. Begin has shown immense courage and true faith in what his open letter to Lennon has stated. He truly speaks for us from the parishes that are targets of Lennon's extinction. I hope and pray that the priests of

3/16/2010 11:43:03 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Do you not agree with the decision that the cluster team decided on? When given the ultimatum that at least two churches had to close, I think the idea may have been to decide on which churches were the "easiest"

3/16/2010 1:40:37 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
This subject, I believe, pivots around the issue of celibacy for the priesthood. The present heirarchy is strongly opposed for a variety of reasons. I am suggesting that until we resolve that priests can be married the the brick and

3/15/2010 8:55:35 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
God bless Fr. Begin for his fidelity to the Gospel and the Church. The closing of the churches has been a deeply flawed and harmful process and his courage in speaking out is a great gift to the Church in

3/15/2010 8:30:06 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
You must not belong to St.Pats.

3/15/2010 7:54:20 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
St pats is in the worst financial shape than the other churches!!

3/15/2010 6:16:42 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Bishop Lennon seems to be the spiritual descendant of Bishop John Ireland of St. Paul, who is sometimes referred to as the "father of the Orthodox Church in America". Bishop Ireland's hostility to Catholics of other ethnic backgrounds and customs

3/15/2010 4:28:14 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
I did know about the invitation from Parish Council, actually the letter came from the President of Parish Council, not the members to the best of my knowledge. It was not signed by Fr. Begin. Don't you think that if

3/15/2010 3:24:58 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
@danbill0515: St. Colman's sent an invitation to the people of St. Procop's during the summer before the closing. It was from the Parish Council and the Pastor. We would very very much welcome the people of St. Procop's, and that

3/15/2010 2:29:42 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Writer628: THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT COMPRISED OF A BUNCH OF ASS KISSERS AS YOU CLAIM. I SUGGEST YOU DO SOME RESEARCH AND LOOK AT HOW MANY BISHOPS,PRIESTS,DEACONS,RELIGOUS, AND LAY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE WORKING EVERY

3/15/2010 2:14:53 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
I am one who has always had faith that St. Cecilia's will stay open. It is a Monument in the Community and without it, I feel the neighborhood will surely fall to everything negative that could possibly happen. For some

3/15/2010 1:27:04 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Wow, how Fr Begin has changed. During the clustering meetings all he had to say was close St. Procop Church. He was never concerned about the salvation of the people of St. Procop, if he were, he would have invited

3/15/2010 7:58:50 AM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
Father Begin for Bishop !

3/15/2010 6:37:54 AM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
I believe that Father Bob did the right thing. He said what so many of us having been saying since the announcements were made. I for one took it as a wake up call and began attending an inner city

3/14/2010 6:38:44 PM -05:00
Comment on Catholic priest, the Rev. Bob Begin, challenges Bishop Richard Lennon on church closings
BISHOP LENNON, I HAVE COME TO PACK YOUR BAGS AND TAKE YOU TO YOUR NEW HOME DOWN UNDER , WITH YOUR LITTLE DOG TAYAK TOO!