Dear Bishop Sean O'malley,

    I remember asking when I was very young what makes a priest different from anyone else? I think I got an answer along the lines of "they've studied the bible and know more about it than every day church goers."  Well even that explanation now seems to have fault in it.  I have always felt that the church leadership should be the beacon of hope and the representation of Catholicism to the world.  That has unfortunately not happened in the past few years.  Priests have been involved in activities that no one can excuse, Bishops and cardinals continue to turn their heads to mistakes of the clergy, parents of children in closed catholic schools are forced to fine new places of learning in only a few months, and now we have entire congregations without a home in Christ.  How can we as a Catholic people learn to respect a group of leaders who at times don't seem to care about the people whom they lead?

  It is extremely unfortunate that churches are being closed for reasons that make little sense.  I have heard talk of a sacramental index. Would this be your way to rate how holy each house or worship is?  I could have sworn that each church was created equal and every place where more than three people are gathered in the name of Christ was just as important as a church.  Sacred Heart means so much to so many people and it is a place of worship where god is praised, and up to this point a place where a man with your status in the church was praised.  Add to this the fact that Sacred Heart is completely financially stable and do you really need any more reason to keep this church open?

    I guess there is not much more to say other than the fact that the entire congregation of Sacred Heart asks for you to look into yourself and live up to the words that you have been preaching.  Follow in the example of Christ and keep a great house of worship open, for you will never forgive yourself for letting politics and finances destroy the religion that you should so firmly believe in.