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12 Cleveland-Area Catholic Churches to Re-Open After Bishop Lennon Announces He Will Not Appeal Vatican Ruling

On Tuesday morning, Bishop Richard Lennon announced that he will be re-opening 12 churches whose closings had been reversed in a ruling made by the Vatican in March.

The 12 parishes filed appeals with the Vatican after Lennon closed or merged nearly 50 churches in 2009 and 2010 in the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, which covers eight counties in northeast Ohio. Reports had initially indicated that there were 13 churches that won appeals, but that is not the case. 13 filed appeals, but only 12 won.

Lennon said that after consulting with clergy, laity, and experts on church law, he decided not to appeal the Vatican rulings. He also added that "it is time for peace and unity in the Diocese of Cleveland."

The Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy ruled last month that Bishop Lennon did not follow church laws and procedures when he closed the 12 churches. The 12 churches had argued that they were vibrant, self-sustaining parishes and should thus not be subject to closure.

Bishop Lennon Says He's Not Yet Made a Decision on Reopening Churches

In a letter to be distributed this week at weekend masses, Bishop Richard Lennon of the Cleveland Catholic Dioceses says that the issue of reopening the 13 churches that were recently spared by the Vatican has yet to be resolved.

Earlier this month, the Vatican ruled that Bishop Lennon had improperly closed 13 churches in 2009. It was a decision that shocked many, including the lawyer representing the closed churches.

In the letter, Lennon says that the issue of reopening the churches "is not nearly as clear-cut as it may appear." He writes that there is no easy or perfection solution. Lennon says that hasn't made any decisions yet, but promises to respect church authority.

It was only two weeks ago that Vatican officials ordered the churches to be reopened. These 13 churches were among a larger group of 50 that were closed or merged due to declining numbers of parishioners and priests.

Billboard in Cleveland Urges Bishop Lennon to Reopen Closed Churches

A Texas resident has purchased a billboard advertisement in Cleveland to spread the word about reopening 13 Roman Catholic churches in Northeast Ohio that were closed in 2009.

Elaine Andrews Carroll attended St. Wendelin's Church as a child. Now living in Texas, she decided to put a message which reads "Bishop of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, Reopen Our Church Doors! Restore Our Parishes! Parishes Decreed to be Reopened by the VATICAN" on a billboard located at Carnegie Ave. and East 13th Street.

Carroll is also in the process of getting a second billboard ad put up in Cleveland. She says she isn't doing it to harass anyone, and just wanted to make a statement.

Last week, Bishop Richard Lennon of the Cleveland Catholic Dioceses received decrees from the Vatican regarding his orders closing 13 churches. In 2009, Lennon closed or merged 52 parishes due to declines in parishioners and a shortage of priests.

Members of 3 Closed Churches Urge Bishop Lennon to Reopen Them

On Thursday, members of three Cleveland area churches gathered in an effort to urge Cleveland Catholic Diocese's Bishop Richard Lennon to swiftly comply with Vatican decrees and reopen 13 Roman Catholic churches that he was found to have improperly closed in 2009.

The group held a meeting on Thursday evening, during which they read letters that were sent to Bishop Lennon on Wednesday, asking him to name new pastors and restore churches to the positions they had prior to their closings.

Approximately 100 people were in attendance at the gathering, which was arranged by members of St. Patrick and St. Casmir churches in Cleveland and St. James church in Lakewood.

Cleveland Catholic Dioceses spokesman Bob Tayek said that Lennon had likely not seen the letters by Thursday evening, and that the documents received from the Vatican on Wednesday were currently being reviewed.

Bishop Lennon has 60 days to decide whether or not he will repeal the Vatican's ruling.

Bishop Richard Lennon Confirms Receipt of Vatican Ruling Reversing Church Closures

Last week, word leaked that the Vatican had reversed the closure of 13 Cleveland-area Catholic churches that had been closed by Bishop Richard Lennon of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese. Lennon confirmed today that the official decrees had been received on Wednesday, and that he is reviewing the rulings with his advisers.

Bishop Lennon has 60 to decide whether or not he will appeal the ruling.

The Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy ruled that Lennon failed to follow church law and procedure in the closing, which took place three years ago in 2009. The 13 churches affected by the ruling were amongst 50 in the region that were shut down or merged. Lennon said that the closures were necessary amid declining numbers of parishioners and priests, as well as finances.

Vatican Overturns Decision of Cleveland Catholic Diocese to Close Local Parishes

According to the attorney representing 13 local parishes fighting to stay open and leading a legal battle against the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, the Vatican has overturned the closing of the parishes.

Attorney Peter Borre says that the ruling was handed down by the Congregation of the Clergy last week. Borre adds that the clergy showed that Bishop Richard Lennon did not follow the proper procedure in closing the parishes back in 2009, and said:

“Bishop Lennon would be well advised to hurry up on down and open these churches immediately."

In March 2009, Bishop Lennon announced that 52 parishes would be closed or merged. Lennon says that such a drastic step needed to be taken due to a significant decline in parishioners and a shortage of priests.

Borre says that even he was surprised by the ruling:

“This is the first case in 20 years where a Bishop has been reversed on this type of legal mater. The Bishop can appeal but this time he will not be facing off against parishioners and members of a local congregation. He will be facing the Congregation of the Clergy.”

Cleveland Catholic Diocese Responds to President Obama's Revised Birth Control Policy

Facing mounting pressure from religious groups, President Barack Obama announced on Friday a revised policy for contraceptive coverage. The Cleveland Catholic Diocese, and other religious groups, have responded somewhat favorably to the change and believe that it is a step in the right direction.

The original rule would have required employers to provide health insurance that includes contraception, and would have applied to religious charities and hospitals that are morally opposed to birth control. This drew criticism from both the Catholic Church and a number of other religious groups.

Under the revised policy, insurance companies will be the ones providing the coverage. The insurance companies will reach out to female employees who work for religious organizations and provide contraception free of charge. Obama said, "Under the rule women will still have access to free preventative care, no matter where they work." Employers will not have to play a direct role in medical care that they are opposed to.

Robert Tavek, a spokesman for the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, said that President Obama's decision is a direct response to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington D.C.:

Gisele Set to Become World's First Billionaire Supermodel as Her Lingerie Line Goes Global

Gisele Bündchen is already the world's richest model, but her wealth is about to hit new heights. As her lingerie line goes global, Gisele is set to become the world's first billionaire model.

The Gisele Bündchen Brazilian Intimates range was launched last May and has already proved popular in Latin America, Portugal, Japan and Israel. Now, further expansion is expected.

With her various product endorsements and business ventures, Gisel earned a total of $45 million USD last year. She's now on track to become the first billionaire supermodel.

Model Bar Refaeli, 26, is said to be following in Gisele's footsteps and is also preparing to launch her own collection of underwear next month.

Kardashians Accused of Using Sweatshop Labor to Make Clothing Line

The negative press continues for the Kardashian klan, who after being accused of orchestrating Kim's "fake" marriage to Kris Humphries, are now linked to sweatshop labor. Star Magazine claims that several items sold under the K-Dash by Kardashian label, the Kris Jenner Kollection and Kim Kardashian's ShoeDazzle line are made in regions of China where factory workers endure horrific working conditions.

Human rights investigators went undercover at several factories linked to Kardashian products. While the Kardashians raked in $65 million last year, workers at the factories making their products are paid as little as $1 per hour. Some of the workers were also found to be as young as 16-years-old.

So far, the Kardashians have not issued an official response to the report that their products are made in sweatshops.

Pajama Jeans Are Now Available for Men

Was the man in your life jealous of your oh-so-comfortable Pajama Jeans, pants that look like jeans but feel like you're wearing pajamas? Well now he can get himself a pair too! Okay, so they're not the official "Pajama Jeans" brand, but they're the same idea.

Online retailer Lakeside Collection is selling pajama jeans for men in two different styles. One is a acid washed style with fake holes and rips, while the other are saggy include the fake boxer shorts hanging out.

It's a clever idea for pajamas, but I doubt we'll be seeing men sporting this out in public the same way we've seen women wearing their Pajama Jeans. Also, if they want them to look more authentic, Lakeside Collection should take a cue from Pajama Jeans and put the drawstrings on the inside of the pants, rather than on the outside.

The knit pants go for $12.95, but they're all sold out so if you were hoping to give them as a Christmas gift, it'll have to be a belated one. LC does, however, have in stock their version of Pajama Jeans knock-offs.