It’s reopening day for 2 closed Ohio churches spared by Vatican

7/15/2012

CLEVELAND — Two of the closed Cleveland Catholic Diocese churches spared by the Vatican are reopening Sunday with special Masses.

The first two to unlock their doors after several years are St. John the Baptist in Akron and St. Casimir in Cleveland.

There will be nine more reopening Masses over the next few weeks. A 12th spared church with a merged congregation is reclaiming its original name.

The churches were among 50 closed or merged by the Cleveland bishop because of declining congregations, finances and priests.

The Vatican sided with parishioners who appealed and said the closings weren’t done properly.