CLEVELAND -- Bishop Richard Lennon and Mayor Frank Jackson stood side by side Thursday at a groundbreaking ceremony, then addressed a proposal that may have them on opposite sides.

Lennon and Jackson joined forces at St. Rocco Parish to break ground for a senior citizens center that will house about 40 needy elderly people in the neighborhood.

Later they discussed with WKYC an idea from Congressman Dennis Kucinich that the City of Cleveland should use the power of eminent domain, if needed, to acquire closed churches from the diocese, then lease them back to community groups or social service agencies.

"I think it's a very complex question about the use of property in our city today and no one answer is going to solve the issue," said Bishop Lennon.

He said when he administered the closing of churches in his previous diocese in Boston, no city used eminent domain.

"This is one of the examples of how eminent domain can be used in a very constructive way for the purposes of historic and cultural preservation," Kucinich told WKYC. He said the city and ethnic or cultural groups could work together with the diocese to acquired closed church properties.

"The city has an abiding interest to see that those institutions are not destroyed, and that's the spirit in which I move forward," said Kucinich, who send a letter to Mayor Jackson, suggesting the use of eminent domain, if needed.

"I fully recognize what the Congressman wants to do is preserve those facilities in a way that can be used by the community," Mayor Jackson said. "I happen to agree with that, but I also have tremendous respect for the Bishop and the diocese."

Jackson would not commit to the possibilities of forcing the diocese's hand by the use of eminent domain, should the city want to acquire a closed church building and not be able to reach a deal.

"I'm not going to say what we're going to do. I'm just going to say I have great respect for the Bishop and the diocese and I'm pretty sure that their intent is the same as ours," Mayor Jackson continued, "and that is to see what is the best way we can have these facilities be an asset to the community."

Bishop Lennon also said his intent was to make sure any closed churches benefit their neighborhoods.

"So much of the use of the property really needs to focus on what is going to enhance the quality of the life for the people," the Bishop told WKYC.

"So, even though we may leave a piece of property, we are looking for the best use for the people in that area and I think that is really where the discussion has to be, on that level."

Both the Bishop and the mayor indicated that talks on the issue of soon-to-be-vacant churches were ongoing.