Faithful have right of access

A self described 'instigator' from Boston came to Cleveland to speak of parishes, and the common problem those dioceses have suffered: Boston in failure, and Cleveland in some recent success. Peter Borré spoke to-day, at the Sheraton Hotel at Hopkins aeroport, to parishioners from several parishes [Adalbert (Cleveland), Barbara, Holy Trinity (Lorain), Patrick (West Park), Wendelin, Emeric, Margaret Mary, James, Casimir, and Lawrence].

before convening

It has been thirty (30) days since the Bishop of Cleveland has acknowledged receipt of several Vatican Decrees. These decrees where issued by the Congregation for the Clergy, which overseas all the parishes of some 5000 dioceses. They say all the appealing parishes where illegitimately suppressed by Richard Lennon, both in procedure “de procedendo”, and by legal discernment of details “de decernendo”. These Roman Decrees are the response to parishioners asking redress, and reversal of the suppression (closures) of their parishes.

a local filmmaker, Michael Wendt, and a local television station did some filming and interviews

Borré has represented, and intervened for the parishes of several dioceses in North America in opposition to episcopal over reach. Nowhere has the victory been so pronounced as for these Cleveland parishes. Each appeal that was received in proscribed time, and maintained throughout to the Congregation for the Clergy was granted acceptance, thirteen individual mandates to restore the status quo ante.

The last line, or virtually the last line, of the decrees is: The Bishop of Cleveland is instructed to enact the implications of this Decree. These are not random words, nor vague ones; they are exact. “The Bishop of Cleveland” is not named, so this is not necessarily directed only to Richard Lennon, but whoever is the Bishop of Cleveland at the time; “is instructed” — is ordered; “to enact” — to make happen; “the implications of this Decree” everything suggested by this document.

What is ordered? Canon 1214: For the allowance of the right of access to “a sacred building designated for divine worship to which the faithful have the right of entry for the exercise, especially the public exercise, of divine worship.” Lennon misstates if he says the meaning of the documents can possibly suggest anything else.

Borré told the conference of parishioners that “the Congregation has spoken”. These “are landmark decrees” that give the parochial right of unimpeded access to church buildings. The parish is open, “size does not matter”, and “Catholic presence is fundamentally manifested at parish level”. He went on to tell them what they instinctively knew: “We are fighting for what is the most important element in Catholicism — the Parish”. Further, this has been compounded everyday, since 15 March 2012, by the failure of Lennon to comply. This is a scandal that does damage to the faith. Parishioners have been denied access to their churches during the holiest of seasons — the Pasch. Further still, this local bishop is possibly separating himself from the universal church.

There is no love lost between Borré and Lennon. Borré of all those in attendance, by far, had the longest acquaintance with Lennon. He speaks with unflattering words about “his nibs”, but accurately, and succinctly. Dick Lennon was the architect of parish suppression, and destruction, in Boston.

Borré came to encourage Clevelanders. Vladimir Ilič Lenin wrote in 1901, a famous essay entitled, What is to be done? Borré spoke to that question. E pluribus unum: co-incidently, people in attendance realised thirteen (the number of successful parishes) was the same as the number of colonies that defeated an earlier tyrant. A solid stance to hold Lennon to church law is needed. The people must not be divided, and must not surrender.