To the editor:

The disassembling of the Diocese of Steubenville looks to be nearly complete. Thanks to the efforts of Bishops Daniel Conlon (2002-2011) and Jefferey Monforton (2012-2023), the agenda has been to scatter faithful parish communities by closing their churches.

The hierarchy for the Diocese of Steubenville — Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archbishops Daniel Pilarczyk (1982-2009) and Dennis Schurr (2008-2025) — along with apostolic nuncios — Cardinals Gabriel Higuera (1998-2005), Pietro Sambi (2005-2011) Carlo Vigano (2011-2016) and Christophe Pierre (2016- present) never once came to the diocese to see what these two bishops were doing. After destroying thriving parishes, Pope Benedict XVI transferred Conlon to Joliet, Ill., and Pope Francis transferred Monforton to Detroit.

After the disasters of these two bishops, Pope Francis named retired Bishop Paul Bradley as an apostolic administrator (2023-2024) and Bishop Edward Lohse, the bishop of Kalamazoo, Mich., as an additional appointment as apostolic administrator (2024- present.)

A decree by Conlon, using Canon Law 515, on Sept. 14, 2005, established a new parish, Triumph of the Cross. This parish would be made up of church and parish members of Holy Name Cathedral, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Stanislaus, St. Pius X, Servants of Christ the King and Holy Rosary. In June 2008, Conlon closed these parishes and churches. Since a bishop must have a cathedral, Holy Rosary Church was selected. (Note that his seat was never moved there.)

The diocese website showed the picture of Holy Name Cathedral — until recently. For 17 years deceit was perpetrated.

With Canon Law being used again, the canon lawyers have come up with another solution: Have an ordinary, a diocesan official. In the church bulletin it had read: Triumph of the Cross — a Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Steubenville. In the bulletin of Oct. 5 and 6, it reads: Triumph of the Cross — Cathedral Parish, Diocese of Steubenville. So, I believe soon there will be an announcement.

There is a feeling of deep sadness of what has taken place since May 29, 2003, when Bishop Conlon began the pastoral plan for the city of Steubenville and expanded it throughout the diocese. Here it is 17 years after the closing of Holy Name Cathedral, and because of the neglect there is talk of demolition.

There was no reason for this to happen in one of the smallest dioceses in the United States that has been blessed with priestly vocations.

Merica Petrella

Steubenville