Bishop Lennon hears St. Emeric requests

CLEVELAND - John and Edith Juhasz were married at St. Emeric Church.  So was their daughter.  All three of their children were baptized there. The couple hopes families can make even more memories there in the future.

St. Emeric, located on West 22nd Street, is one of 50 churches closed by the diocese in an effort to downsize.

The Juhaszs have asked Bishop Richard Lennon to reverse his decision to close the 106 year old Hungarian church. In a meeting Friday afternoon, they also asked the bishop to "restore the faculties and dignity of our pastor, Father Sandor Siklodi, and make equitable and appropriate financial restitution."

John and Edith Juhasz were granted the meeting with the bishop after parishioners staged a sit-in at the church on the day it closed. They want the church to reopen at least while Vatican appeals are underway.

"We do not want to see the assets of the church be at risk of loss," John Juhasz said. "If we keep it open until the Vatican makes its decision, we'd at least mitigate against that."

The Vatican has until the end of November to rule on the appeal. Bishop Lennon hasn't said when he will issue his decision.