Bishop Walter Sullivan’s tenure marked the low point in Catholicism in the Richmond Diocese. His policies were directly responsible for parishioners leaving the church in droves. Bishop Sullivan, by not demonstrating diocese control over rogue priests, condoned their behavior. Church personnel have stated that his retirement letter to the Vatican was accepted immediately. When my father visited us during the later part of Bishop Sullivan’s tenure, he remarked, “You’re right John, this is a Catholic Church — it says so right in the church bulletin.” His lack of orthodox Catholicism left the diocese in a disaster.
J. F. Goodreau, Chesterfield