(Correction: This letter has been revised to reflect that financial audits for the last four years are available on the website of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville.)
To the editor:
In the Herald-Star on Tuesday, Bishop Paul Bradley, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Steubenville, said a proposed merger with the Diocese of Columbus is back on the table. Bradley said the discussions a year ago focused more on financials. He said "this study is broadening that out and looking at all the important aspects of the life of the diocese. They also have to consider the great vitality of faith in the people who are here."
Former Bishop Jeffrey Monforton told the Crux on Oct. 12, 2022, that the possibility of a merger became apparent in 2021 about a year and a half prior to his merger announcement. According to Monforton, the Holy See (the Vatican government) expressed concern in 2021 over the declining numbers. The two sides (Vatican and Monforton) agreed that merging dioceses looked like the best option and the merger was a certainty.
When Monforton announced his intention to merge the diocese with Columbus he had the approval of the archbishop and bishops of all Ohio dioceses, apostolic nuncio to the United States Christophe Pierre and the Vatican. He withdrew it from the United States Conference of Bishops October 2022 agenda after push back from many members of his clergy and laity. The approval of the merger would have been a formality at the conference since Pierre and the Vatican had already agreed that it was the best option.
Some priests in the diocese have stated that the financial health of the diocese is very good. Financial audits from the last four years are available on the Diocese of Steubenville website.
The priests also state that the number of priests per capita is significantly better than any other diocese in Ohio. They claim that there are 372 Catholics per priest in the diocese while there are more than 1,000 Catholics per priest in each of Ohio's other dioceses.
Bradley stated on Nov. 3, "I have already begun the process for publishing an annual financial report to the faithful of the Diocese. We have already discussed it at the most recent Diocesan Finance Council meeting which the council also fully supports. We should have this ready in the near future." The members are anxiously waiting to see the report. Bradley's consideration for the "great vitality of faith in the people who are here," is commendable. His intentions seem very sincere and refreshing. Clergy and lay members have expressed very positive interactions with him in the short time he has been there. However, Pierre and the Vatican approved the merger in 2022. The Pillar on Tuesday stated that their sources closer to the Vatican said there is continued Vatican interest in moving the merger forward and that Pierre urged the resumption of conversation about it.
Are Pierre and the Vatican willing to admit they rushed to judgment and reverse their original decision if the facts show a merger is not the right decision?
Frank Krajovic
CCHS Class of 1965
Woodstock, Ga.