CV NEWS FEED // Two bishops in Ohio met for a third time on February 15 to discuss merging their dioceses, according to a recent statement.
Bishops Paul Bradley and Earl Fernandes from the dioceses of Steubenville and Columbus issued a joint statement on February 20 and said that no decision has currently been made.
The two dioceses have been facing challenges in recent years due to decreased Mass attendance and financial difficulties. Both parishes have already been forced to close several churches as well.
The two bishops began meeting in December 2023 to discuss how the potential merger could affect the Church.
“The Apostolic Nunciature has asked the dioceses to work together to consider how different dimensions of the dioceses, including the temporal aspects of life, might be affected by such a proposal,” the bishops said in a statement at the time.
During the most recent meeting, the bishops said that “leadership teams made significant progress in producing information that will soon be summarized into a report.”
The report will be submitted to Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr and the Apostolic Nunciature for review in March.
“The final decision will be made by the Holy Father, Pope Francis,” the bishops stressed. “This process of discernment is distinct from the process of implementation should a merger occur.”
The bishops concluded by asking “for the continued prayers of the clergy and laity of both dioceses for the Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout the remainder of this process.”
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