Pastoral Council of St. Augustine
1210 Governor Nicholls Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70116

504-250-2781 (Sandra Gordon Cell)
504-466-8519 (Sandra Gordon Home)

March 14, 2006

Most Rev. Alfred C. Hughes, S.T.D.
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125

Dear Archbishop Hughes:

Aside from the understandable sadness and disappointment as a result of the events of the past week, the members of St. Augustine Parish Pastoral Council are deeply troubled by several specific events.

1. Although we have communicated in writing on numerous occasions to the Archdiocese, St. Augustine Parish has not received any officially directed correspondence notifying it of the process or of the determination.



2. We were afforded 72 hours notice before the Appeal Hearing - surely fairness would suggest more time to prepare a presentation which determines the fate of a 163 year old spiritual community.



3. We are confused about your application of the terminology: "appeal process", "listening session", "formal decree", and "suppression".



4. The fact that Father Michael Jacques, S.S.E. chaired and hosted the appeals process at his Parish, and also had a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing, seems to be contrary to any sense of objectivity and fairness. This created an unfortunate conflict of interest which undermines the integrity of the process.



5. For the record, all activities of the congregation and in the media regarding the future of St. Augustine Parish have been conducted solely and independently by members of the St. Augustine Pastoral Council, absent any presence, participation, advice or input from Father Jerome LeDoux, S.V.D.



6. The Pastoral Council members have struggled to encourage respectful restraint among the Parishioners and the community at large who are anxious and angered not only at the result, but at the process. The facts that the newspaper notification was published before the Pastor was informed; the fuzzy Appeals Process/listening session; the unfortunate conflict of interest; and the lack of any written formal communication from the Archdiocese, as required by Canon Law, have nullified the credibility of the process.



7. The Appeal Process in which we participated in good faith appears to have been nothing more than a pacification and a time delay tactic. We fear that this may result in action by the community because they now mistrust the process.

We respectfully entreat you to rescind, or at least delay action regarding St. Augustine Parish, until these terms and procedures can be reconciled with those prescribed by Canon Law. Even though we found the process disrespectful and inconsistent with Canon Law, the Congregation of St. Augustine Parish stands ready to work cooperatively and prayerfully with the Archdiocese to remedy the regrettable developments of the past weeks.

Sincerely,

Sandra Gordon, President
Pastoral Council of St. Augustine Parish