Disgraceful! Diocese Buys Bishop a Mansion!!

Dear Bishop Sullivan and the Diocese of Camden, I remember the shock, and then the disbelief, followed by the anger that engulfed me that morning this past January when I opened up the newspaper and read the headline before me, in big, black, bold letters, "Camden Diocese buys $500,000 Mansion for Bishop". Even still to this day, I am deeply disturbed in just saying those words all in the same sentence. "Surely, there is more to this than just a home" I hoped silently in my mind. I read the article, yet, at the end, I was disappointed not to find anything in there that would bring any comforting reasoning for such an opulent purchase for just one man. Later on that morning I discovered that I was not alone in how I was feeling. People were responding negatively in the comments section of both local and national news websites that were carrying the story. The overall concern was the same as mine: How does a diocese of a church, whose head (Jesus Christ) renounced earthly riches, wealth, and luxuries, allow for the purchase a mansion for a man (the bishop) who himself should know full well Our Lord's call to live in simplicity and humility? How can it be justified that this diocese used church funds and assets to purchase a 5-bedroom, 6 bath mansion with a heated in-ground pool, 5 car garage, 3 fireplaces, and a library for the use of the bishop's residence? How? How can this be justified? Where is simplicity and humility in these living quarters? There were attempts made to justify the purchase: It could be used "to hold meetings with church donors and dignitaries". My question is: what was wrong with the meeting spots that were used before this purchase? How is this a reasonable motive for such an expensive purchase? The justification of this purchase does not stop with the bishop and the diocese. Instead, it is passed on to us, the parishioners of the Church, who are left to explain to others in our duty to evangelize the faith how it is that the bishop of our diocese, home of city of Camden, the poorest and the most dangerous city in America, lives in luxury while the poor of that city, located less than 10 miles from the mansion, live on the streets? I can't even phantom the idea myself, as it severely contradicts how the Gospels tell us how we should live. And on a personal level, I do see a problem with tithing my hard-earned wages and watching it get used on wasteful purposes. I do understand that it is essential to have a "business side" of the church in order to run the diocese efficiently; however, who is in charge of overseeing the spending in this diocese? Is there anyone monitoring it? Is there a committee who decided how this money will be spent? Or is it the bishop who is allowing himself this mansion? This is a fair question that I think a lot of us would like a response to. I want to be clear in this letter that it is not my intention to be disrespectful, nor to attack any particular individual involved in this matter; however, what I am doing is respectfully challenging the responsible person or persons to justify spending a half million dollars for the purchase of this home. An explanation should be given to the parishioners of this diocese as to why a more humbled and simplistic abode for the bishop was not considered or sought out. I would also respectfully like to know if there has been any re-consideration for other possible uses for this mansion since the purchase of it has caused a national scandal? For example, perhaps it can be used for a rehabilitation center for victims of domestic abuse? Or as a nursing facility for retired religious who are too ill to take care of themselves? As a devoted Catholic, I humbly request your response regarding this issue, with the hope of being enlightened as to the Diocese's intentions for such an opulent purchase. I would like to believe that there is a strong purpose of spiritual and charitable significance surrounding the acquisition of the mansion. Respectfully yours, A Parishioner of the Diocese of Camden