Who has all of the facts here?

A sheriff herding the flock

In "Holy Family parts ways" (June 26), the Post-Dispatch reported that Archbishop Raymond Burke was reconsidering the decision to transfer The Rev. Rickey Valleroy from Holy Family Catholic Church to St. Norbert Catholic Church in Florissant.

Rev. Valleroy had requested an assignment near his elderly mother in south St. Louis so he could care for her. Yet he was sent to St. Norbert. At Mass on June 26 at St. Norbert, we learned that Rev. Valleroy would be reassigned in the south.

The church is in crisis. With so much else going on - the continuing child sex-abuse scandal, the upset in Belleville over the appointment of the new bishop and the pain of closing of parishes - this personnel matter might seem insignificant. But it is symptomatic.

There is not a crisis of faith, but of leadership. The church needs shepherds, but has sheriffs instead. Putting rules and bureaucracy first is easy; putting people first would be a refreshing change.

Steven Gietschier
Florissant

It would seem that Archbishop Burke has exercised great compassion and leadership if Fr. Valleroy is being reassigned as he requested. Some see everything as a 'crisis' and are quick to lay blame - especially, it seems, if one does not have all of the facts. Does mr Gietschier have all of the facts of this matter? Or os he merely venting his frustrations for some other reason? The fact that an accomodation was made for Fr. Valleroy would seem to render Mr. Gietschier's rant moot.

Source of letter.