Dear Bishop Lennon,

It is a year now that has passed since March 14th, 2009, when you announced the closings and mergers of many parishes throughout the inner cities and inner ring suburbs of the Diocese. Our priests have been publicly silent. Many of our priests know that thousands of good and loyal people are suffering injury, hurt and an ensuing anger not unlike the anger Jesus himself felt when he confronted the misuse of authority by the leaders of his time. Many priests are hurting as well. Many are angry. Morale is not good.

Public silence can easily be interpreted as acquiescence, agreement and consent. It can make us complicit. Some of us have spoken and written to you privately and requested that you at least submit disputed decisions to a mediation process for the common good of the whole Church. I did that and I took the time to report and explain some of the perceived injustices. I have not yet received an answer to the treatise and to that request that I made to you months ago. To my knowledge, neither have they.