Bishop Richard Glenn Lennon Appointed to Cleveland

Catholic Hierarchy, via e-mail notification ^ | April 4, 2006 | David Cheney

[sitetest]

To: XXX

From: "David M. Cheney"

Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2006 10:32:00 -0000

Subject: [catholic-hierarchy] Cleveland, OH, USA

Howdy,

* Cleveland, OH, USA + Resigned: Anthony Michael Pilla + Named: Richard Gerard Lennon

Peace, David

[sitetest]

I received this notice from Catholic Hierarchy this morning, via e-mail. The link is to Bishop Lennon's page on www.catholic-hierarchy.org.

Some folks had been asking recently about Bishop Pilla's replacement.

[sitetest]

If you'd like to ping folks.

[sitetest]

I believe Bishop Lennon served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Boston after the departure of Cardinal Law.

[sitetest]

If this information was previously posted, my apologies for the duplication.

[steadfastconservative]

Who is Bishop Lennon? No relation to John, I hope. As a Catholic from the Diocese of Cleveland, I'd like to know who this man is.

[old and tired]

Hallelujiah!!!

Diago, I know you've long awaited this day. God bless Bishop Lennon and the Cleveland Diocese.

[steadfastconservative]

The Vatican website has announced the appointment:

http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/18200.php?index=18200&lang=en

It's in Italian, but I can figure it out.

I'm glad this is someone from Boston and NOT from Cleveland, there's way too much cronyism in the chancery as it is. I hope he brings a big push broom so that he can sweep all the radical nuns and useless bureaucrats out of the chancery. Whew, 25 years of Bishop Pilla's reign have finally come to an end.

[TaxachusettsMan]

"More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones." St. Teresa of Avila

[ELS]

From the Vatican Information Service:

VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Richard Gerard Lennon, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Boston, U.S.A., as bishop of Cleveland (area 8,842, population 2,853,155, Catholics 802,767, priests 583, permanent deacons 191, religious 1,446), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Anthony Michael Pilla, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

NER:RE/.../LENNON:PILLA VIS 060404 (80)

[Campion]

If Human Life International moved their headquarters to Cleveland, would Father Marx work closely with Bishop Lennon?

[loud groans] Sorry ... can't help myself ... ;-)

[sitetest]

Dear Campion,

I really think the more crucial question is whether we can get anyone to back him up on the bass and drums.


sitetest

[marshmallow]

Pilla goes early.

Is there a perjury trial in his future?

[old and tired]

whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

Ok. I'll bite. What's canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law? I'm guessing it's the dreaded "health reasons" because it's unlikely there's a relevant passage for "kicked out on his a$$ for being a lousy bishop".

[magisterium]

I'm sure that folks from Cleveland may think *anything* is an improvement over Pilla, but that could be - shall we say - premature. I'm from Boston, and I'd like to point out that we don't call him "Lenin" around here for nothing. He's a total political apparatchik who, in dealing with (and spearheading) the massive church closure move here, has demonstrated the pastoral solicitude of a hunk of granite. He may not be a totally leftist moonbat, but he's not noted for any real demonstrations of orthodoxy, either. At best, he's a status-quo hack perfectly willing to tread water indefinitely.

I realize that, now that he will be the ordinary of a diocese, he may change, come into his own, and actually prove to be a positive force for the return of Catholicism to Cleveland. But based on his track record, I wouldn't expect too much. May God give Bishop Lennon the grace to lead the people of Cleveland with a spirit of fidelity to the Faith; but I'm glad he's not my problem any longer! ;-D

[marshmallow]

Canon 401 §2 A diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfilment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office.

In Pilla's case, the "some other grave reason" may well be a perjury trial.

[NYer]

The Most Reverend Richard Gerard Lennon, D.D.

Titular Bishop of Sufes
Vicar General
Moderator of the Curia

Born: March 26, 1947
Ordained Priest: May 19, 1973
Ordained Bishop: September 14, 2001
Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Boston: December 13, 2003
Appointed Moderator of the Curia, July 31, 2002

[Cheverus]

I call him "tricky Dick" Lennon, he always struck me as a guy who would steal your wallet then help you look for it.

I remember one day I was in his office and he had just done something which impacted me and my family directly and he just sort of smiled and said nothing.

I've also seen the letters he's sent to Priests of the Archdiocese, internal memos authored by him and the way he's treated people.

When you pile that on top of his lack of response when I complained about things like the Pope Joan myth being promoted by a cabinet secretary...among other bad behavior I can't help but to think that Cleveland might be just far enough.

Let's hope he becomes the better man in Cleveland.

[Cheverus]

Yes he was Apostolic Administrator after Law left, after being his Vicar General when Murphy was sent to Rockville Center.

Prior to that he was Rector of St. John's Seminary.

Prior to that he was Assistant for Canonical Affairs...there has been some evidence of him being linked to the Geoghan debacle but nothing 100% conclusive given his short time in the role.

Theologically he's probably a walk the tightrope type, it took until the current Rector to clear out the questionable faculty at the Seminary and while he was Rector they were still tossing guys for being "too rigid" (code for orthodoxy).

[RobbyS]

If Lennon is a "company" man, then he will do what the pope wants.