On anniversary of decrees Lennon boots priest

“The recent action of the Diocese of Cleveland reflects the continuous pattern which has marked the process of clustering, consolidation, closing, suppressions and reopening of parishes.”— Father Robert Marrone

The bishop of Cleveland, Richard Lennon, in a very peculiar moment in historical time ex-communicates a priest. The world's attention concerning Catholicism is focused on this time of sede vacante (popelessness). On March Seventh of last year, the Catholics of the diocese were celebrating the news of the Vatican decrees overruling Lennon's unjust and improper suppressions of parish life.

bishop Lennon is not amused

                                                           Those decrees ordered everything in those particular number of parishes to revert to the previous situation (status quo ante). Through undeniable logic, all parishes under appeal [by definition] were open until appeals were denied. All acknowledged timely appeals were accepted. The parishioners were vindicated and Lennon humiliated.

Now, Fr. Marrone was permanent pastor of St. Peter Cleveland. By logic, and presumably by canon law, Fr. Marrone should have returned to his pastorate at St. Peter's, or by Marrone's option have requested something else; but Lennon made it policy not to return anyone. After a long, and international battle Lennon was forced to have the former priest administrator (official status at the time) of Saint Emeric return as the official pastor (as everyone thought he had been).

In the interim of the false suppression, the parish of St. Peter continued to meet. After Rome decreed, and Lennon belatedly obeyed, the full functioning of the parishes, the continuing body of the St. Peter Cleveland Parish continued at the new address, but with the name (throughout the process) as the Community of St. Peter. Now, the press refers to this as 'a breakaway parish', but they are a continuous parish.

Part of the symbolic items of the office of a bishop is the pastoral staff, the shepherd's crook, the crosier. Lennon carries a club.