22 Facts About Richard Lennon

Richard Gerard Lennon was an American prelate of the Catholic Church.

Richard Lennon served as bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in Ohio from 2006 to 2016.

Richard Lennon previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston in Massachusetts from 2001 to 2006.

Richard Lennon was born on March 26,1947, in Arlington, Massachusetts.

In 1965, Richard Lennon graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.

Richard Lennon graduated from St John's in 1969 with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree.

Richard Lennon received a Master of Sacramental Theology degree from St John's in 1973.

Richard Lennon was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston by Archbishop Humberto Medeiros on May 19,1973.

Richard Lennon was awarded a Master of Church History degree in 1984 from St John's,.

In 1988, Richard Lennon was appointed as assistant for canonical affairs for the archdiocese, working for Auxiliary Bishop William Murphy.

In 2000, while working as an aide to Cardinal Bernard Law, Richard Lennon wrote a letter certifying that Paul Shanley, an archdiocesan priest, was in good standing for a transfer.

In June 2001, Richard Lennon was invested as a knight in both the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Richard Lennon was consecrated on September 14,2001, by Cardinal Law.

Richard Lennon served as the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese from Law's resignation until the accession of Law's successor, Archbishop Sean O'Malley, in July 2003.

In June 2008, after allowing the diocesan reconfiguration process inherited from his predecessor to inform his decision, Richard Lennon announced plans to close at least 30 parishes in the cities of Cleveland and Lorain, including older parishes in Cleveland's inner ring suburbs.

Richard Lennon presided at 78 Masses that marked the closing, merging, and opening of parishes over the next 14 months.

In September 2010, after the Vatican ruled that the closing of St Peter violated canon law, Richard Lennon reopened it with a new pastors.

On March 4,2013, Richard Lennon excommunicated Marrone latae setentiae for having disobeyed him by participating in the schism.

In July 2011, due to the discord created by the parish closings, Richard Lennon requested that the Vatican conduct an apostolic visit to the diocese to assess the situation.

On February 4,2016, Richard Lennon underwent an emergency cardiac procedure.

That same day, Richard Lennon revealed his recent diagnosis of vascular dementia.

Richard Lennon died in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 29,2019.