Cleveland diocese mourns excommunicated priest

Last updated on: March 8, 2013 at 7:02 am by CNA Daily News

Cleveland diocese mourns excommunicated priest 2013-03-08T07:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Cleveland, Ohio, Mar 8, 2013 / 12:02 am (CNA).- Bishop Richard G. Lennon of Cleveland announced the excommunication of Father Robert Marrone on March 4, calling people to pray for the priest, who had refused two years of reconciliation attempts.

“We are saddened by this development” Robert Tayek, the diocese's public relations director, told CNA March 7.

“The priests, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland are exhorted to pray for the reconciliation of Father Marrone with the Catholic Church,” wrote Bishop Lennon March 4.

“With concern for the welfare of the faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland and in order to avoid confusion, error, and scandal I…have judged it necessary to take the most serious step of declaring the incurred latae sententiae excommunication of Reverend Robert J. Marrone,” he said.

Fr. Marrone went into schism and excommunicated himself over a matter of a parish closing.

In March 2009, the Cleveland diocese underwent a downsizing that closed some 50 parishes, including St. Peter's, of which Fr. Marrone was the pastor. After the closing was announced, some members of the parish formed an independent non-profit called the Community of St. Peter.

In April 2010, Fr. Marrone took a year-long leave of absence from ministry, with the understanding that he could not publicly celebrate the sacraments during that time. Despite this, he knowingly and repeatedly did so as “pastor-administrator” of the Community of St. Peter, Bishop Lennon wrote.

During that leave of absence, Bishop Lennon repeatedly tried to reconcile Fr. Marrone and the Community of St. Peter with the diocese, to no avail. Bishop Lennon sought unsuccessfully to engage Fr. Marrone in discussion to persuade him to reconciliation in January 2011, and several times throughout 2012.

Four months ago, Fr. Marrone received a formal canonical warning and received an advocate from another diocese to represent him. However, he refused to even respond to his advocate.

Bishop Lennon said that it is “with sadness” that he had to recognize that Fr. Marrone had broken from communion with the Church and gone into schism, after more than two years of trying to reconcile him with the Church.

The bishop noted that his decision was made “after due process in law,” with “prayerful reflection on the peace and welfare of the Church,” and “with due regard to my responsibilities as the Bishop of Cleveland.”

The decree began with several references to the documents of Vatican II, which stress the God-given gift of unity within the Church.

The diocese noted that excommunication is a “medicinal penalty.”

“It is my prayer that the declaration of excommunication may impress upon Father Marrone the serious nature of the offense he has committed, and thus with haste he may seek to reconcile with the Catholic Church which in all places and in all times seeks to extend the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ to all people,” wrote Bishop Lennon.

Since Fr. Marrone is excommunicated, he may not licitly receive or celebrate any of the sacraments. The diocese said that attending Mass “at the Community of St. Peter or any other schismatic parish” does not fulfill one's Sunday obligation.

Bishop Lennon concluded, saying that “it remains my fervent hope that Catholics everywhere can once again be united by prayer and charity.”

“I pray that we may come together with God's help and strive to strengthen our diocesan Catholic community of Cleveland,” he said.

Previous Post

March 8, 2013

Gender language blocks bishops from supporting domestic violence bill

Next Post

March 8, 2013 Catholic University students use spring break to serve

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What specific sin does Paul say is against one's own body?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sexual immorality Gluttony Self-harm Drunkenness