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Both dioceses will discuss the feasibility over the next few months.
The bishops who lead the dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville in Ohio could present a merger plan to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as early as June 2024, according to the bishops of both dioceses.
It’s not yet a done deal, the bishops told the Register, but staff members from the two dioceses met recently to exchange information. It could take about three or four months to determine whether a merger is feasible, Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus and Bishop Paul Bradley of Steubenville, said.
If the two bishops, the papal nuncio, Ohio’s other bishops, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agree, a plan would be submitted to Rome for the Pope’s approval.
A similar announcement in October 2022 by Bishop Jeffrey Monforton, Steubenville’s previous bishop, drew significant opposition from people in the diocese and from priests.
“They felt like they had not been sufficiently consulted. They themselves were unaware. In fact, their reaction was one of shock — how could this be? And so I think that's one of the reasons why now we want to have a wider consultative process,” Bishop Fernandes told the Register.
On Monday afternoon, the Register conducted online interviews with Bishop Fernandes, who became bishop of Columbus in May 2022, and Bishop Bradley, a recently retired diocesan bishop who became apostolic administrator of Steubenville on Sept. 28.
Earlier in the day, the bishops in a written statement described the merger talks as “very preliminary.”
The two bishops and key officials from both dioceses met Dec. 5 at a conference center in Cambridge, Ohio, which is about one hour and 20 minutes’ drive from both cities. Among the details officials have to work out is how they might reconcile insurance coverage as well as salaries and pensions for priests and lay employees.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
The bishops who lead the dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville in Ohio could present a merger plan to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as early as June 2024, according to the bishops of both dioceses.
It’s not yet a done deal, the bishops told the Register, but staff members from the two dioceses met recently to exchange information. It could take about three or four months to determine whether a merger is feasible, Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus and Bishop Paul Bradley of Steubenville, said.
If the two bishops, the papal nuncio, Ohio’s other bishops, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agree, a plan would be submitted to Rome for the Pope’s approval.
A similar announcement in October 2022 by Bishop Jeffrey Monforton, Steubenville’s previous bishop, drew significant opposition from people in the diocese and from priests.
“They felt like they had not been sufficiently consulted. They themselves were unaware. In fact, their reaction was one of shock — how could this be? And so I think that's one of the reasons why now we want to have a wider consultative process,” Bishop Fernandes told the Register.
On Monday afternoon, the Register conducted online interviews with Bishop Fernandes, who became bishop of Columbus in May 2022, and Bishop Bradley, a recently retired diocesan bishop who became apostolic administrator of Steubenville on Sept. 28.
Earlier in the day, the bishops in a written statement described the merger talks as “very preliminary.”
The two bishops and key officials from both dioceses met Dec. 5 at a conference center in Cambridge, Ohio, which is about one hour and 20 minutes’ drive from both cities. Among the details officials have to work out is how they might reconcile insurance coverage as well as salaries and pensions for priests and lay employees.
Continued below.
Local Bishops: Steubenville-Columbus Diocesan Merger Back In Play
Both dioceses will discuss the feasibility over the next few months.
