The apostolic administrator, Bishop Edward Lohse, announced results from a study of the Diocese of Steubenville that involved not only himself, but members of the diocese consultors, finance council, administrator and priests.

In a story published in the Herald-Star March 12 (“Report highlights challenges of diocese,”) the bishop stated: “Some of the Steubenville diocese’s difficulties are rooted in its establishment in 1944 as a mission diocese, Lohse said, meaning it has struggled with resources since its inception.”

A mission diocese, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, lacks the resources to provide basic pastoral ministry to its population.

The facts are that the Diocese of Columbus was unable to provide enough priests to the Catholic population, prompting the formation of the Diocese of Steubenville. Bishop John King Mussio changed the interior and exterior of Holy Name Cathedral; purchased a large amount of property in the West End of Steubenville; had the St. John Hospital and St. John Arena built; opened the Villa Maria in Steubenville as a seminary for men looking to enter the priesthood (it later became a nursing home;) saw the opening of a replacement seminary, St. John Vianney Seminary in Bloomingdale; built a number of new churches.

This was not a mission diocese.

In the article, Lohse stated, “Many have felt the decisions affecting their lives have been, and are being, made without their input, and the lack of transparency up to this point has been, I hope that our efforts today begin to reverse that.”

The facts of this statement are that according to Canon Law, the bishop has the sole decision. This is similar to the speech given by Bishop Daniel Conlon when he began his pastoral plan for the city of Steubenville in May 2003 and ended with the signing of decrees which called for building a new cathedral and the closing of five churches and six parishes in June 2008. Lohse has the same group of people, just a different time period.

There are other comments that were of interest, but the one that stood out the most was: “On the negative side, the shuttered Holy Name Cathedral presents few options other than demolition.”

During the time period of Conlon’s pastoral plan for the Diocese Steubenville, 2003-08, all of the churches had pastors, had no debt and all had vibrant parish communities. Also during that time, the mills in the area were closing. Seeing what was happening around him, he decided to move forward with his plans with no concern for his flock or the community.

This is an abomination. Using Canon Law, Conlon wrote and signed decrees that established a non-existent parish, Triumph of the Cross, as a new cathedral, yet his chair was never moved when closing Holy Name, the seat of the Diocese of Steubenville. Meanwhile, the diocese website has shown the picture of Holy Name, a church that has been closed for 18 years.

Why the deceit?

A picture published by The Pillar in 2020 shows the interior of Holy Name. The interior is deplorable, the neglect of this house of God.

At the center is the altar. There is fallen plaster on it and all around the church. Behind it appears to be the bishop’s chair.

All of the other religious articles have been removed, but the most important remains — the altar, the place where the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of our lord, Jesus Christ.

Where is the hierarchy, where is righteous anger?

(Petrella is a resident of Steubenville)