Police stand by bishop at Cleveland church closing

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland bishop had a police security detail as he said the final Mass at a Roman Catholic church that he ordered closed.

An officer followed Bishop Richard Lennon down the aisle at the end of Sunday’s service at St. Procop in Cleveland. Bishop Lennon skipped a social hour after Mass.

About 40 protesters stood across the street in the rain with placards opposing the church shutdown.

The 110-year-old St. Procop is one of 50 churches ordered closed or merged by Lennon because of declining congregations, finances and priest numbers. The parish was founded 137 years ago.