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Man who jumped from Aqua building was Ohio priest under investigation

Rev. James Csaszar, pastor of Church of the Resurrection in the Columbus suburb of New Albany, Ohio, died after throwing himself off the Aqua tower, left, on Dec. 20, 2017. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune, Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus)
Kyle SwensonWashington Post




On Wednesday morning Chicago police promptly cut off rush hour traffic on a street just north of Millennium Park. A man had flung himself from the heights of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, a sleek ultramodern skyscraper reaching 82-stories into the downtown skyline.

The Cook County medical examiner's office announced the next day it was a suicide. The jumper's name was James Csaszar.

Three hundred miles away, the ugly news jolted suburban Columbus, Ohio. Until November, Csaszar had worked as a Catholic priest at the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, Ohio. Then, after misconduct allegations surfaced about the priest, the 44-year-old was placed on administrative leave.

An investigation into Csaszar will continue despite his death, Ohio law enforcement said.

The Diocese's decision to suspend Csaszar was due to "questionable text and telephone communications with a minor," the church stated in a news release. The Diocese went further to note the charges were also related to a "potential misuse of church funds" while Csaszar was serving at St. Rose of Lima Parish in New Lexington, Ohio, roughly 55 miles southeast of Columbus. The full statement, signed by Rev. Frederick F. Campbell, Bishop of Columbus, reads:

It is with deep shock and sadness that we have learned of the death of Father James Csaszar, pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, who took his own life yesterday in Chicago.On November 7, Father Csaszar was placed on an administrative leave by the Diocese of Columbus after diocesan officials were made aware of excessive and questionable text and telephone communications with a minor and potential misuse of church funds while serving as pastor of St. Rose Parish, New Lexington. Following a diocesan review of the matter, the New Lexington Police were contacted and all information was turned over to them and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for their review; an investigation was being conducted at the time of Father Csaszar's death.

We are reminded throughout sacred scripture that God our Father is loving, merciful, compassionate and forgiving. We also know that in his years of priestly ministry Fr. Csaszar did many good things for the people that he served in his parish assignments. And so we ask that everyone pray for Father Csaszar, his family, friends, and parishioners during this most difficult time.



The 82-story Aqua residential tower and hotel in the 200 block of North Columbus Drive. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Columbus's 10TV reported New Lexington Police sent an email to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification with the subject line: "inappropriate relationship between Priest and 16yom." According to the station, police were only in the preliminary stages of the investigation at the time of Csaszar's suicide.

Csaszar worked at St. Rose Parish between 2005 and 2016. The Diocese of Columbus's website indicates he was ordained on June 26, 1999.

The priest was evidently an active and well-liked figure in his community, delivering baccalaureate masses to local Catholic high schools and hosting "Catholic Singles on Fire for Christ" mixers.

"You could always talk to him and felt comfortable speaking with him and he was always there to listen to you no matter where he was on the street or what it was," Cheryl Dodson, a New Lexington business owner, told the NBC 4. "He was one of my favorites. Out of all the Catholic priests I've known and affiliated with, he was one of my favorites."

Some church members stuck with Csaszar after the allegations emerged last November. That month, an online petition was started in support of the priest.

"Evidenced, in part, by the attendance at Sunday Mass, Father Jim has been instrumental in growing Church of the Resurrection, in numbers, in spirituality, in community and in service," the posting said. "While we don't know the circumstances and reason for the leave, it is critical that we stay steadfast as a Parish and stay in prayerful support of Father Jim. If you are a Parishioner of The Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, Ohio, please add your name to this petition as a show of your support."

Chicago Tribune staff and the Associated Press contributed

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Wall of Separation

Scandalous Sentence: Judge Orders Catholic Man To Attend Protestant Church Instead Of Sending Him To Jail


Jun 1, 2016 by Simon Brown in Wall of Separation

Strotman may be happy with his sentence, but that doesn’t mean it is right. While judges can have great leeway in sentencing for some matters, they cannot ignore secular law in favor of religious justice.

An Ohio judge who likes “creative sentencing” has ordered a Catholic man to attend Protestant church services rather than sending him to jail.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge William Mallory has a reputation for handing out unusual sentences – and this week he chose one for Jake Strotman that may be unconstitutional.

Strotman, 23, got into trouble back in January after attending a Cincinnati Cyclones hockey game. The Enquirersaid Strotman had been drinking during the event and afterward he and some friends were approached by a group of Baptist preachers who didn’t approve of Strotman’s group.

“They were telling me I was going to hell,” Strotman told the newspaper. “I was asking them: ‘Why do you think you can condemn people?’ I didn’t understand why they thought they could judge me.”

From there, things escalated and eventually a fight broke out after more words were exchanged. In the minor melee, one of the preachers was cut by his own glasses and Strotman ended up being charged with low-level assault.

Facing 90 days in jail, Strotman was desperate to avoid prison time. He told Mallory as much.

Mallory said he was open to an alternative.

“I’m trying to get to something reasonable here,” Mallory said at the sentencing. “And I’ll be honest with you guys, sometimes in certain places people don’t want to be preached to. You agree with that right?”

Then the constitutional trouble began.

“I admire the fact that you want to spread the word of God because I’m a religious man, too,” Mallory continued. “Also the thing about religion, I think it is kind of personal and for me I don’t try to impose my religious views on other people except for sometimes in this room.”

Mallory, as a government official, certainly should not be imposing his religious beliefs on anyone. Least of all people like Strotman who are vulnerable. Yet that is exactly what happened.

Anxious to avoid that 90-day sentence, Strotman said: “Your honor, if I may, I would be more than happy to serve a church of your choosing.”

It seems that got the judge’s attention. Strotman, a Catholic, was sentenced to attend 12 Sunday services at Star Baptist Church, which is the house of worship to which the preachers involved in the fight belong. He also paid almost $3,000 in fines and legal fees.

“Three months, that’s not that bad,” Strotman said afterward. “I think it’s a nice example of hearing people out instead of getting angry and jumping to conclusions.”

The self-employed window, siding and doors salesman added: “I’m going to listen with both my ears and keep my mouth shut. Then, maybe I’ll try to sell them some windows.”

Strotman may be happy with his sentence, but that doesn’t mean it is right. While judges can have great leeway in sentencing for some matters, they cannot ignore secular law in favor of religious justice.

Regardless of his stated satisfaction, Strotman’s rights were violated here. Mallory may like creative sentencing from time to time, but if his idea of creative includes forcing religion on vulnerable people accused of crimes, then he is overstepping his bounds as a judge. He needs to enforce secular law with secular punishment because that is what the Constitution requires.

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Ten Commandments plaque being stored in office

Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, mrotunojoh@marionstar.com5:03 p.m. EST December 15, 2014



(Photo: Bill Sinden/The Marion Star)


MARION – A donated plaque of the Ten Commandments is being stored in the Marion City Schools superintendent’s office until an agreement can be reached on where to move it.

The plaque had been in the Marion Harding High School building since it opened and was taken down in August. Students, community members and the administration will discuss where to move it on Jan. 6.

Harding freshman Anthony Miller, who had been protesting the decision, said he plans “on doing work this week” after not participating in class for several days.

Kurt Moore, communications coordinator for MCS, said a parent inquired about the plaque over the summer. He said Harding Principal Kirk Koennecke made the decision to take it down in August.

The plaque is labeled as a donation from the class of 1956, not 1953 as previously reported.

Reporters for the Harding Herald first reported this story in the Dec. 5 issue and began circulating a petition to get the Commandments hung back up.

In an interview last week, Herald staffers Shanna Morris, Cheyenne Abrams and Sydney Cook said they want the plaque back up at school, not in another location.

“Taking down the Ten Commandments has caused more problems than leaving them up,” said Abrams, the Herald editor.

The Marion City School Board meets tonight at 7 p.m. There is no mention of this issue on the agenda, but there is time for the public to bring forth concerns before the meeting.

Historical context: religious displays and the law

Government action regarding religion is guided by the so-called “Lemon test” established after the 1971 Lemon v. Kurtzman Supreme Court decision. The test is threefold:

1. The statute must not result in an “excessive government entanglement” with religious affairs.

2. The statute must not advance or inhibit religious practice

3. The statute must have a secular legislative purpose.

The court has cited the Lemon test (also referred to as the establishment clause) in several cases.

The Ten Commandments were a point of contention in a 2004 court case, Van Orden v. Perry.

Petitioner Thomas Van Orden argued a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the state capitol building represented an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion under the establishment clause.

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the monument could stay up, saying that “simply having religious content or promoting a message consistent with a religious doctrine does not run afoul of the establishment clause.”

The monument was donated “to the people and youth of Texas by the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Texas, 1961.”

That same day, the American Civil Liberties Union won a battle against three Kentucky counties that displayed framed copies of the Ten Commandments and other religious documents in courthouses and public schools.

In McCreary County v. ACLU, the court decided 5-4 that the counties violated the Lemon test.

In Ohio’s Jackson City School District last year, a court ordered the district to pay $95,000 in damages and permanently remove a portrait of Jesus from its property to settle a lawsuit file by ACLU of Ohio and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Also in 2013, the East Muskingum School Board voted to remove a painting of Jesus from John Glenn High School.

mrotunojoh@gannett.comTwitter: @RJReports

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Man fatally shot outside northeast Ohio church

TEL
This image provided by WKYC, Channel 3, shows the scene outside a church in Ashtabula, Ohio, on Sunday, March 31, 2013. Police in northeast Ohio are investigating a shooting outside the church that has reportedly left one man dead after an Easter service. (AP Photo/WKYC)


3 hours ago



Police in northeast Ohio are investigating a shooting outside a church that left one man dead after an Easter service.

A member of the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ said the man was shot soon after Easter services ended, around 1:15 p.m. Sunday. Joan Crockett said the man knew the shooter, and that a suspect was taken into custody.

Media reports identified the victim as Richard Riddle, 52, and said his son was the shooter.

Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell told the Star Beacon in Ashtabula that dispatchers received multiple calls about the shooting from inside the church and that a mass shooting was feared. He said at least six other law enforcement agencies rushed to assist local police.

The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland reported that the church's pastor said congregants were leaving when they heard a gunshot.

"People pushed me into a back office and said, `Somebody's here with a gun,'" said the Rev. David Howard Jr. "The guy was outside hollering and acting crazy."

There were no immediate reports of any other injuries.

Howard said the church has about 175 members. He said people at the church didn't know what led up to the shooting.

"It's such a tragic loss," Crockett said.

County Coroner Pamela Lancaster told the Star Beacon that Riddle's wound was "immediately fatal." She said the body will be transferred to the Cuyahoga County coroner's office for autopsy.

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Related:

Shooting reported outside Ohio church
Posted Sunday, Mar. 31, 2013 


OHIO -- Police in northeast Ohio are investigating a shooting outside a church that a parishioner says left one man dead after an Easter service. Ashtabula police would not immediately confirm the fatality; an officer answering the telephone would say only that authorities were investigating. A member of the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ said the man was shot soon after Easter services ended, around 1:15 p.m. Sunday. Joan Crockett said the man knew the shooter, and that a suspect was taken into custody. She said the wounded man died. ThePlain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland reported that the church's pastor said congregants were leaving when they heard a gunshot.

-- The Associated Press

Source: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/03/31/4740579/shooting-reported-outside-ohio.html#storylink=cpy

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A look at Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

GLENN B. DETTMAN.
The Rev. Ed Gretchko of St. Mary's Catholic Church burns palm leaves that were blessed on Palm Sunday of 2012 to be used at the Ash Wednesday service. No Published Caption


By Staff reports


IndeOnline.com staff report

Posted Feb 12, 2013 @ 11:23 PM

MASSILLON — Here are some facts about Ash Wednesday, as observed today in Western Christianity. Ash Wednesday takes place 40 days prior to Easter Sunday — Sundays are not included in the count — and serves as the beginning of Christians’ spiritual preparation for the sacred holiday.

Palm-burning ceremony

Earlier this week, palm branches that were blessed and distributed to parishioners on Palm Sunday a year ago were burned by area churches in preparation for Ash Wednesday.

“They (palm branches) have been blessed and carried in procession,” said the Rev. Edward Gretchko of St. Mary Catholic Church in Massillon. “Usually, most people put (palm branches) in their homes over a crucifix or pictures of the saints as a constant reminder that Christ is King.”

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, which follows Shrove Tuesday and features Mardi Gras celebrations, signals the beginning of the 40-day period of spiritual reflection and preparation known as Lent — a word derived from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, meaning “spring” — that culminates with Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. Ashes from the burned palm branches will be used today during services at area churches. Pastors will spread ashes on the foreheads of their parishioners in the sign of a cross.

Symbolism

The ashes are representative of the mortality of the human race and repentance of sins.

“Ashes are put on the forehead as a sign that one day we will return to dust. Primarily, it’s a sign of our mortality. Secondly, it’s a sign of our penance. ... Basically, it’s about the conversion of the heart and controlling the passions,” Gretchko said. “By turning our heart away from the things of earth, we enter into his passion and suffering and death. ... It highlights something we must always be doing, but it gives us renewed vigor.”

Spiritual renewal

Lent is viewed as a time of purification and enlightenment for those preparing for baptism and a time of repentance and spiritual renewal for those who already have been baptized, according to the Rev. Thomas Cebula of St. Barbara Catholic Church in Massillon.

“Those who are not baptized are preparing and those who already have been baptized are going through a renewal of baptismal vows,” Cebula said. “It’s a 40-day period of spiritual reconditioning. It’s a time of prayer, fasting and works of mercy.”


Ash Wednesday services in Massillon

◦St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 206 Cherry Road NE, 8:15 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 7 p.m.

◦St. Joseph Catholic Church, 322 Third St. SE, 8:30 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 7 p.m.

◦St. Barbara Catholic Church, 2813 Lincoln Way W., 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

◦Central Presbyterian Church, 47 Second St. NE, 7 p.m.

◦St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 127 Cherry Road NE, 7 p.m.

◦First United Methodist Church, Epworth United Methodist and Wesley United Methodist (combined service at Epworth, 3061 Lincoln Way W), 7 p.m.

◦St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 226 Third St. SE, 12:10 p.m., 7:30 p.m.


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Brother commits suicide: Self-inflicted knife wound cited

January 27, 2013

Brother Paul Stephen Baker was facing allegations of abuse at Bishop McCort.
Kathy Mellott and Patrick Buchnowski

kmellott@tribdem.com


HOLLIDAYSBURG — Brother Paul Stephen Baker, the Franciscan friar who was the subject of a sex scandal at Bishop McCort Catholic High School, died Saturday from a self-inflicted knife wound.

Baker, 62, who was living at the St. Bernardine Monastery, took his life at the facility, located at 768 Monastery Road, Hollidaysburg, said a statement from Blair Township police Chief Roger White.

White said his department, Hollidaysburg EMS and the Pennsylvania State Police were called to the monastery at 7:35 a.m. in response to an individual who reportedly was not breathing.

Baker, also known as Stephen Baker, was discovered in his room by another resident of the monastery who initially summoned an ambulance, White said.

He is believed to have stabbed himself just prior to him being discovered, White said.

Baker was pronounced dead at the scene by Blair County Deputy Coroner Brian Reidy.

Confirmation of the suicide did not come until late Saturday afternoon following a 2 p.m. autopsy at Nason Hospital, Roaring Spring.

In a short statement from Brother John Kerr, inside a small room in the aging multi-story brick monastery, Father Patrick Quinn, Third Order Regular, minister provincial confirmed Baker’s passing.

“We regret to announce that Br. Stephen Baker died this morning,” Quinn wrote in the statement. “The matter is under investigation by the authorities.

“We will not be able to make further comment until the investigation is concluded.”

During the past 10 days, dozens of former male students from Bishop McCort have come forward, alleging that Baker sexually molested them.

Quinn fell short of citing the allegations, though he made reference to them.

“We express our regret and prayers to his family and especially to all who have been impacted by this tragic situation,” Quinn concluded.

Kerr, who answered the door at the monastery, said that Quinn was out of town Saturday and unavailable for comment.

In responding to questions by The Tribune-Democrat, Kerr said that Baker was the cook at the monastery. He added that he was a good cook.

Prior to Baker’s death, there were eight residents at St. Bernardine, Kerr said.

Tony DeGol, spokesman of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, said Bishop Mark Bartchak was saddened by news of Baker’s death.

Citing pending legal action, DeGol said in a statement that no further comment would be made.

“Bishop Bartchak continues to pray for everyone during this difficult time,” DeGol wrote.

Baker, whose past has been difficult to track, came to Bishop McCort around 1992. While a Franciscan, he worked at the high school under the authority of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese as a religion instructor and in the athletic department.

It was while he worked with high school athletes through the early 2000s that many of the sexual assaults allegedly occurred. Victims who have been coming forward are alleging various degrees of sexual assault. The offenses usually took place in a whirlpool or on a table in the athletic department.

Victims also have told attorneys that some of the assaults occurred in Baker’s van.

The allegations from former Bishop McCort students surfaced after a settlement of civil suits recently was announced between 11 former students of the John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

Baker had worked at the Ohio school as an instructor and in the athletic department from 1986 to 1991. It was his last assignment before coming to Bishop McCort, according to a timeline provided to The Tribune-Democrat by SNAP – the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests.

During his time in Ohio, it is alleged that Baker molested at least two boys attending St. Mary’s Catholic Middle School, a feeder school for JFK.

Last week, Greensburg attorney Susan Williams filed notice of intent to pursue civil action against the Franciscans, the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese and Bishop McCort.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Saturday that an allegation in 2000 out of Minnesota prompted Baker’s reassignment from Bishop McCort to Blair County, initially to St. Joseph’s Friary in Hollidaysburg, then to St. Bernardine.

Quinn told the Post-Gazette the Minnesota allegation was a single event and did not involve a school.



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Archbishop beseeches wayward Catholics to return

2 of 3 in this area skipping Mass

9:25 PM, Nov 28, 2012



Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr / Provided


Written by
Dan Horn



Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr made a simple plea Wednesday to Roman Catholics who have drifted from the church.

“We miss you,” he said. “Please come home.”

Schnurr’s message was part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s launch of a TV and radio advertising campaign that church leaders hope will bring thousands of wayward Catholics back to the faith.

Schnurr said the campaign is inspired by Pope Benedict XVI and his declaration that the coming year is a “year of faith,” in which Catholics should more aggressively evangelize their religion.

It’s also part of a continuing effort to reverse a decades-long trend that has seen attendance at Sunday Mass steadily decline. About two out of three Catholics in the Cincinnati archdiocese and Covington diocese – about 300,000 people – do not regularly attend Mass.

Mass attendance is a crucial measure of the health of the church because it is the center of spiritual life for Catholics. The church teaches it’s a sin for Catholics to miss Mass and the rite of Holy Communion unless they are ill or incapacitated.

Schnurr said most Catholics who no longer attend regularly did not make a conscious decision to stay away. Instead, he said, the distractions of modern life and secular culture pulled them in another direction.

“Sometimes people drift away from the church because they simply don’t understand the teachings of the church,” Schnurr said.

He said he hopes the ad campaign will remind Catholics why their faith is important and why many may feel “a longing for something more.”

Tom Peterson, whose nonprofit Catholics Come Home produced the ads, said his experience suggests Schnurr is right. He said Mass attendance increased by an average of 10 percent in the other 33 American dioceses that have launched similar campaigns.

“The results were really amazing,” Peterson said.

The media blitz will include more than 3,000 commercials, including about 1,700 in Greater Cincinnati, with messages about the Catholic Church’s history, traditions and teachings. Some ads tout the church’s accomplishments; others feature personal testimonials from people who returned to the faith after many years. All commercials share a common theme: “If you’ve been away from the Catholic Church,” one ad says, “we invite you to take another look.”

The campaign will cost more than $200,000 and is covered by a special collection parishes took up during Mass this year. The ads will run from Dec. 14 to Jan. 20 in the Cincinnati, Dayton and Lima media markets, which cover most of the 19-county archdiocese.

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Full transcript of Obama’s speech on the economy in Cleveland, Ohio

Video: President Obama contrasted his economic plan with presumed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney during a campaign speech in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday.

Published: June 14

Full transcript of President Obama’s June 14 speech on the economy at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio:

OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. Thank you so much.

Well, good afternoon, everybody. It is great to be back in Cleveland. (APPLAUSE)

It is great to be back here at Cuyahoga Community College.

(APPLAUSE)

I -- I want to first of all thank Angela (ph) for her introduction and sharing her story. I know her daughter is very proud of her. I know her daughter’s here today. So give her a big round of applause.

I want to thank your president, Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton.

(APPLAUSE)

And I want to thank some members of Congress who made the trip today, Representatives Marcia Fudge...

(APPLAUSE)

... Representative Betty Sutton...

(APPLAUSE)

... and Representative Marcy Kaptur.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, those of you who have a seat, feel free to sit down.

(LAUGHTER)

So...

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama!

OBAMA: Thank you.

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!

OBAMA: Thank you.

So, Ohio, over the next five months, this election will take many twists and many turns, polls will go up and polls will go down, there will be no shortage of gaffes and controversies that keep both campaigns busy and give the press something to write about.

You may have heard I recently made my own unique contribution to that process.

(LAUGHTER)

It wasn’t the first time. It won’t be the last.

(LAUGHTER)

And in the coming weeks, Governor Romney and I will spend time debating our records and our experience, as we should. But though we will have many differences over the course of this campaign, there is one place where I stand in complete agreement with my opponent: This election is about our economic future.

(APPLAUSE)

Yes, foreign policy matters, social issues matter. But more than anything else, this election presents a choice between two fundamentally different visions of how to create strong, sustained growth; how to pay down our long-term debt; and most of all, how to generate good, middle-class jobs so people can have confidence that if they work hard, they can get ahead.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, this isn’t some abstract debate. This is not another trivial Washington argument. I have said that this is the defining issue of our time and I mean it. I said that this is a make-or-break moment for America’s middle class, and I believe it.

OBAMA: The decisions we make in the next few years, on everything from debt to taxes to energy and education, will have an enormous impact on this country, and on the country we pass on to our children.

Now, these challenges are not new. We’ve been wrestling with these issues for a long time. The problems we’re facing right now have been more than a decade in the making.

And what is holding us back is not a lack of big ideas. It isn’t a matter of finding the right technical solution. Both parties have laid out their policies on the table for all to see.

What’s holding us back is a stalemate in Washington between two fundamentally different views of which direction America should take. And this election is your chance to break that stalemate.

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Cleveland bishop pressed to reopen spared churches

THOMAS J. SHEERAN, Associated Press

Updated 09:12 a.m., Thursday, March 8, 2012

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Cleveland-bishop-pressed-to-reopen-spared-churches-3391768.php#ixzz1oXwuddoY

CLEVELAND (AP) — Critics of widespread church closings in the Cleveland Catholic Diocese called Thursday for the bishop to implement an extraordinary Vatican ruling and quickly reopen 13 churches.

Bishop Richard Lennon must decide whether to abide by the ruling from the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy or challenge it before the church's top court.

Spokesman Robert Tayek said Thursday the bishop has unofficial copies of the ruling but must await certified documents from the Vatican to comment. Lennon has 60 days to appeal.

Patricia Schulte-Singleton, who leads the Endangered Catholics group that challenged the closings, called on Lennon to meet with affected parishioners and reopen the churches.

"I think it would be in his best interest as well as the diocese's best interest," she said.

FutureChurch, a Cleveland-based coalition which lobbies for a stronger voice for lay Catholics, called on Lennon to skip any appeal and restore affected parishes.

"We hope the diocese will reach out to appealing parishioners and reconcile by engaging them in the planning to restore them to their parish homes," Sister Chris Schenk, leader of FutureChurch, said in an email statement.

The Vatican move represents a rare instance in which Rome has reversed a U.S. bishop on the shutdown of churches. The Congregation for the Clergy ruled that Lennon failed to follow church law and procedure in the closings three years ago.

The 13 churches were among 50 shut down or merged by Lennon, who said the eight-county diocese could no longer keep them open because of declining numbers of parishioners and a shortage of priests.

Church offers drive-thru for Ash Wednesday

'It’s a drive-thru,' Ohio pastor says, 'Not a drive-by'

CINCINNATI — An Ohio church is offering a drive-thru Ash Wednesday blessing for parishioners who might be pressed for time.

The Rev. Patricia Anderson Cook of Mt. Healthy United Methodist Church in suburban Cincinnati plans to provide the service for people of all faiths and services beginning around 5 p.m. in the church's parking lot.

“Some people are very busy, and some people get a little intimidated walking into a church, this is for them," Cook told the Cincinnati Inquirer.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which concludes after 40 days with the celebration of Easter.

In addition to ashes, Cook will provide a church brochure and a Lenten booklet.

“It’s a drive-thru,” she said. “Not a drive-by.”

The church is also offering a more traditional Ash Wednesday service inside at 7 p.m.


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