I got this letter some weeks ago in relation to the upcoming date of my golden jubilee of ordination. To say the least I was surprised and irritated by it; it was certainly insensitive.
My original suspension from ministry twelve years ago was imposed by my religious congregation, under pressure from the CDF in the Vatican. But now, things have changed in the Vatican with Francis in charge, and my reading of my situation is that my suspension could easily be lifted by my religious superiors, if they so wished.
In that context, this letter was especially unwelcome. I have done my best to convey to my superiors my unhappiness with the letter in the weeks since I received it, but I have had no success in getting any satisfactory response as yet.
