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I am not Catholic so forgive me if I offend. I understand your sadness at the thought of losing your Priest. In my denomination (PCUSA) the loss of a beloved pastor is often difficult, but can lead to change and growth of the congregation. One man does not make a church.

As for informing the media, I don't see what the diocese would have to gain by alerting the media. It would seem to me with the recent scandals, that any publicity would be bad publicity for them. Do you agree?

First of all, if the bishop had said to him that he was really needed to help develop a growing parish, Father would've been sad to leave but he would have joyfully accepted his new assignment. But, how it was handed to him was not right. How the diocese involved the media was not right. He is being removed for reasons other than a trumped-up charge of non-compliance of not doing background checks on a volunteers. Liberals have a natural distaste for guys like him. It was just a matter of time before they found something to hang him on.

The person in charge of alerting the media was the woman chancery officer. I wonder how she feels now that it has become a media circus and has embarrassed the bishop.

None of us at the church had any intention of protesting in the face of the world. In fact, we had no inclination to protest until we were made aware that Father had been truly wronged and was deserving to have the matter looked at by Rome. But, we have had to deal with what has been given us. We are not a parish who has been chomping at the bit to protest.

What we have here is a good man who is having his face dragged through the mud for no reason. That is why we are upset. A good man does not deserve to be treated in such a manner.