50th Catholic parish is closing in Cleveland

By MEGHAN BARR
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 30, 2010

CLEVELAND -- A bell tolled solemnly as a man read the names of the fallen churches like a list of dearly departed saints.

St. Hedwig's, recently sold to a drug rehabilitation agency. St. Andrew's, demolished months ago.

Now joining them is St. Emeric's, an old Hungarian parish, where about 100 parishioners gathered Wednesday to say goodbye. The church is the last of 50 parishes to close its doors, ending a massive downsizing of mostly older, ethnic parishes decreed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland because of falling attendance, a priest shortage and financial problems. the rest