In 2020, the bishop authored a book - "Ask the Bishop: Questions and Answers Over the Years." He added that further discussion regarding the dioceses future will take place at the diocesan level. Diocese of Steubenville. Nous vous conseillons, en dehors mme de tout litige et en vue de toute transaction, rdigeons tout acte juridique de la vie courante et dfendons vos droits devant toutes les . Monforton announced the request in a Nov. 7 letter to clergy and religious in the diocese. He didnt do anything until he was backed into a corner, the former employee alleged. In that letter (a copy of which is enclosed), we asserted that the Diocese of Steubenville should remain open, and we cited statistics and facts that contradict much diminutive and inadequate information that has been presented to the public. Monforton could have alerted authorities then. Gathering held in front of the Diocese of Steubenville's chancery to Following the decisions announcement, the Bishop offered an extraordinarily restrictive survey (copy enclosed) in which people have less than two weeks to complete and return it as the vote by the Conference will take place approximately a week later. The Oct. 18 letter also argued that financial condition of the diocese is more stable than Monforton has suggested, and that an outside read of the numbers would indicate that. Speaking for nearly an hour, the bishop outlined for priests a shrinking Catholic population, now around 29,000 Catholics, an aging presbyterate, and the economic prospects for an Appalachian region mired in unemployment and poverty. For example, why did Bishop Monforton not utilize the synodal process we just completed to seek input from the clergy and laity about a decision of such great consequence? Inquiries and other communications regarding this site: savethedioceseofsteubenville@gmail.com, Diocese of Columbus Closing Fifteen Parishes, All Options and an Audit for Diocese of Steubenville, Untruths Included in Columbus College of Consultors Discussion. Steubenville Mayor Jerry Barilla, one of the speakers, told the crowd it was handled badly. We ask Your Excellencies and your brothers in the episcopate to delay the November vote on the proposed merger so that we and our laity may participate in this process that so directly and greatly impacts our relationship with the Church and each other. An extended process that invites and welcomes widespread participation would allow for examination and discussion of complete, full, and accurate information, and would certainly enhance the legitimacy of any possible outcome.. Here is the text of the letter (I got the images of it from JD Flynn of The Pillar), and Ill offer some thoughts below. Fourteen active priests - out of 36 in the diocese - signed an Oct. 18 letter to the five other diocesan bishops of Ohio, asking them to stop the merger process. We thought those things were expected now, to listen before deciding. He could have alerted the IRS then, but he didnt, said the former employee, who requested anonymity because of her current position in a related field. I wonder if those priests look at that and are now wondering if their own bishop is hiding from them a similar secret. We are basically living with rubbing two nickels together. What this diocese needs is a few years of really dynamic leadership of a bishop who wants to see this local Church thrive, and preserve our culture, and we could be really on fire.. With the number of parishioners, Monforton said the diocese would fall below 25,000 total Catholics in 10 years. Copyright The Herald Star | https://www.heraldstaronline.com | 401 Herald Square , Steubenville, OH 43952 | 740-283-4711, The state of Ohio currently says it is illegal for schools to require vaccinations that have only been approved for emergency use, such as the COVID-19 vaccines; nor are there mandates in place requiring masks or facial coverings,, Parents who choose to send their children to diocesan Catholic schools, do so with the full knowledge and understanding that diocesan Catholic schools do not mandate the use of a facemask for students, teachers and staff who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19; nor shall unvaccinated students, teachers and staff be required to social distance by a different standard than for those vaccinated.. The clerics added that the Diocese of Steubenville has a higher share of Catholics attending Mass than other Ohio dioceses, had more participation in the global synod on synodality, and had both a stable population and continued prospects for priestly vocations. Since the October 10th announcement of a proposed merger between the Diocese of Steubenville and the Diocese of Columbus, many have voiced their counsel, including disappointment and even fear, Monforton said in the letter, obtained by Crux. Deacon Ben Gessler. This website is the initiative of Tom Crowe of Beatrix Media, LTD, who is solely responsible for its content. Steubenville Priests Send Letter; Other Dioceses Worried? The grant request was approved, and at least some funds have been dispersed to the Steubenville diocese. Diocese of Steubenville | Steubenville OH - Facebook Another priest said that Monfortons indirect form of consultation, on a major diocesan issue, should not be sufficient before a final decision. How can an entire diocese be vulnerable to such a process? We do not think so. The Pillar confirmed that while diocesan officials said that priest - Henry Foxhoven - began counseling during a brief 2017 suspension, he actually had one counseling session in September 2018, the month before he was arrested on sexual assault charges. You're our business plan! Steubenville diocese to face merger with neighbor Columbus diocese The diocese worked with city officials to create Cathedral Square, a plaza outside the church that Monforton said would be a place for locals to gather. The signatories argued that the Diocese of Steubenville has significantly more priests per capita than any other diocese in Ohio there are 372 Catholics per priest in the diocese, the letter claimed, while there are more than 1,000 Catholics per priest in each of Ohios other dioceses. It was like no response whatsoever. 422 Washington St. Steubenville, Ohio, 43952. How a merger would affect the dioceses priests, and a desire to see that they are cared for. Immaculate Heart of the Mother of my God, I implore through your powerful intercession, the preservation of our Diocese of Steubenville, the conversion of the hearts of men, complete victory over sin, and the return of the peace which you have promised. NEW YORK Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of Steubenville has requested that the U.S. bishops conference table a vote on merging his diocese with neighboring Diocese of Columbus at next weeks fall meeting after receiving feedback of disappointment and fear over the potential change. We also pray, especially today, for our priests, our deacons and all those who are truly effected by this, McManamon told the faithful. I have requested the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to remove discussion of a merger and subsequent vote from the plenary sessions agenda at this time. Follow John Lavenburg on Twitter:@johnlavenburg. The people of the diocese didnt have a say in it, he said. Monfortons desire for a merger is based largely on statistics on the priests in the diocese and the sustainability of a diocese where the number of parishioners continues to decline. Steubenville 2nd Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon, Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn and her husband, Scott, were among those who led a section of the Rosary. For their part, the signers of the Oct. 28 letter to Gomez called for a process of dialogue and discernment before any decisions are made about their diocese. . Barely a month would have passed between Bishop Monfortons October 10 announcement of the proposed merger and the vote by the Conference if the process continues as is. Le diocse a t rig par le pape Pie XII le 21 octobre 1944, recevant son territoire du diocse de Columbus[1]. Monforton told The Pillar that the Cathedral Square project cost the diocese more than $1 million in unrestricted funds. There will be no vote next week.. If Im being investigated, I would not be able to say anything.. Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Lourdes, Wintersville. What Im trying to do is create a template. Despite these scandals that so broke the hearts and shook the faith of both us and our people, the Diocese of Steubenville has a Mass attendance rate of over 50 percent, certainly one of the highest in the country.. With the Holy Father, we clergy wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor! Most importantly, we are blessed to already live in that reality for which Pope Francis longs for the universal Church, they added. We ask Your Excellencies and your brothers in the episcopate to delay the November vote on the proposed merger so that we and our laity may participate in this process that so directly greatly impacts our relationship with the Church and each other, the clerics wrote, in a letter sent to Archbishop Jose Gomez, USCCB president. That is a shameful number. Diocese of Steubenville | Offices | Steubenville, OH In mid-October, the Catholic University of American published Well-being, Trust, and Policy in a Time of Crisis: Highlights from the National Study of Catholic Priests. It was my hope that we were going to get through this, and that it would be a nightmare that would be over with and that we would get word from the Holy See that [we should] give it a shot., The bishop added that he believed considering the prospect of a capital campaign was important, because we had to look at [needs in] the entire diocese.. [Required for recurring payments.]. From there, about a year ago, the Ohio bishops met and unanimously voted that the merger . This is mission territory that cries out for the spreading of the Catholic Faith. Diocese of Steubenville pulls the plug on its cathedral renovation plan When we look at the numbers, and what we would have told him, is that it does not seem to us that this is necessary, or going to solve any problems.. Enter a password so you can login next time. We beg Your Excellencies, please allow us to do it.. Save the Diocese of Steubenville - Facebook Diocese of Steubenville, Columbus discussing merger The Diocese of Steubenville's offices are located in the Steubenville chancery, 422 Washington St. This is mission territory that cries out for the spreading of the Catholic Faith. To stay up-to-date on the Center's announcements, visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/sacredheartcenterofhope. The Diocese of Steubenville is home to fewer than 40,000 Catholics across 13 southeastern Ohio counties. And there was no objection raised, the bishop said. Monforton told The Pillar that he is getting mixed reviews from Steubenvilles presbyterate about merger plans, with older priests generally supportive of the plan, and younger ones more opposed. This story is developing and will be updated. In an October 10 interview with Crux, Bishop Monforton described the survey currently ongoing as the chance to vent. Can there be authentic dialogue if the discussion is merely a chance to vent?. But our ability to evangelize has been compromised, and that will continue. At his meeting with clergy and staff, Monforton was asked about whether he had consulted with any group of priests while deciding to push for a closure of the diocese. In an Oct. 11 interview, Monforton told The Pillar that he began speaking with apostolic nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre and the Vatican Congregation for Bishops about the prospect of merging the Steubenville diocese more than 18 months ago. The diocese has 23 priests over the age of 50, and 13 aged 49 and younger. Le diocse de Steubenville (latin: Dioecesis Steubenvicensis) est un diocse catholique aux tats-Unis recouvrant treize comts du sud-est de l'Ohio. It is processes such as the one clergy and laity of the Diocese of Steubenville are currently undergoing that have led to this fractured relationship between bishop and priest and the resulting lack of confidence and trust that priests should be able to have in their bishop and vice versa. Or the people? And I had my director of finance take a look, and thats when the fraud was discovered.. But the bishop said he aims to help his priests with the painful process of a prospective merger. A new temporary roof was put on the cathedral in 2019 after leaks damaged the interior. Cependant, en juin 2013, l'vque, Mgr Monforton, annonce que la nouvelle cathdrale ne sera pas construite, et que pour des raisons financires, la cathdrale du Saint-Nom sera conserve et simplement restaure et repeinte[2]. Dont tell anyone until its too late, so as to minimize the amount of time they have to complain and cause unpleasantness., I wonder how many other dioceses are watching this and are wondering, are we next?. We are the periphery of which Pope Francis so beautifully speaks! the signatories wrote. All Rights Reserved. But the Steubenville clergy had urged last month that measure was premature. The results from the recent survey provide further evidence of a division in the future vision for the Churchs service in the Ohio Valley., Therefore, I have requested the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to remove discussion of a merger and subsequent vote from the plenary sessions agenda at this time, Monforton, whos led the eastern Ohio diocese since 2012, continued. Questions about our online giving portal? In this letter they talk about clergy fromother dioceses expressing shock and concern over the process playing out here. Il comptait galement 101 prtres (contre 135 en 1999 et 194 en 1966), 58 religieuses (contre 233 en 1970), 36 religieux et 8 diacres permanents. They dont stipulate the way in which this process is affecting those priests, but I wonder if the priests in question are from other smaller, troubled dioceses dioceses that have more actual problems than Steubenville has. He said the Ohio Bishops had already voted on it, and in November hes taking it to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Permanent Deacon Paul D. Ward, director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation and Schools, issued guidelines for Catholic schools for the start of the 2021-22 school year, in light of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact Joseph Schmidt at [email protected] or 740-516-9270 The results of the feasibility study, Monforton said, have not yet been returned to the diocese. Thank you for your attention to our concerns, and we will, of course, pray for wisdom and guidance in this most serious matter. The last U.S. diocese merger was in 2020, when the Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, was merged with the Archdiocese of Anchorage to create the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Bishop Monforton reacts to Dioceses merger between Steubenville - WTRF Among other issues raised, Monforton applied for a $50,000 grant to study fundraising prospects for a cathedral renovation and other diocesan projects, even after plans for the extinctive merger of the diocese were underway. Two retired priests and two permanent deacons also signed the letter. L'vque actuel est Mgr Jeffrey Monforton. The Diocese of Steubenville has had five bishops since its establishment: Bishop John King Mussio, Bishop Albert H. Ottenweller, Bishop Gilbert I. Sheldon, Bishop R. Daniel Conlon and currently, Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton. Monforton had told priests and staff members at an Oct. 10 meeting that hed been exploring the possibility of merging the 13 counties of the Diocese of Steubenville with the Columbus diocese, citing declining numbers in parishioners, mass attendance and active priests as well as population. In one sense, we as missionary disciples of Christ could be in no better place! the clerics argued. But the former employee said she continued to observe serious anomalies in diocesan fiscal records, and pushed for a broad investigation of financial malfeasance. The Steubenville diocese is home to fewer than 40,000 Catholics in 13 counties of Appalachian southeastern Ohio, who are served by 36 active priests, according to the diocese. Mentions lgalesAgence crative this is it. Nearly a hundred parishioners, priests and nuns, rosaries in hand, gathered in front of the chancery to pray for the diocese, for Bishop Jeffrey Monforton and their priests. STEUBENVILLE The Diocese of Steubenville has pulled the plug on its cathedral renovation plan, blaming the reversal on financial fallout from the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a . The center also houses AA meetings, AlAnon meetings, NAMI-sponsored support groups, Project Rachel, and Triumph of the Cross's Free Lunch Program. Monforton is also facing criticism in Steubenville for a third case, in which a priest impregnated a teenager after diocesan officials were warned about his inappropriate behavior toward her. Christian ASSIER & Andr SALAUN. Save the Diocese of Steubenville The consultation has been occurring over the past few years, Monforton told his priests. We are small, we are poor, we are the lowest paid clergy in the state. Oct 24, 2022 LINDA HARRIS Staff writer lharris@heraldstaronline.com GATHERED Parishioners gathered Sunday in front of the Diocese of Steubenville chancery to pray that a proposed merger with. That kind of consultation certainly wouldnt suffice for the closure of a parish, the priest said.
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