My family and I are having a hard time understanding how a principal of Bob Herring's caliber can be terminated on a whim by our pastor, Father Mark Sherlock.

Bob is a man who lives the gospels every day and also teaches these same values to my children and his staff with his actions.

Nativity Parish is drawn together like never before. This is no longer just about getting Bob Herring back. This has made us aware of the absolute power a pastor of a parish has. There are no checks and balances in place to prevent this from happening to your parish.

Our own archbishop stated that his hands are tied. Cannon law has given this power to the parish priest. It is time to change Cannon Law.

The Church is people. Help us in getting these things changed.

Dick Meirose, Amberley Village

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Priests are simply abusing their power

In the Nov. 20 statement by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk published in the Catholic Telegraph, he asks forgiveness from the victims of abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church and asks, "help us to see to it that what you have suffered never happens again." Well, it has happened again. A pastor has abused his power to the detriment of many lives.

Last week, an instrument of the Catholic Church, the Rev. Marc Sherlock, has inflicted immeasurable injury upon Nativity School, the faculty and staff, parents and potentially the Pleasant Ridge community and surrounding neighborhoods by unilaterally firing principal Robert Herring, highly respected and long-standing principal of Nativity.

When will the abuse of power by our priests stop? And who has the power to stop it?

Kathy Neff, Amberley Village

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Herring respected as Nativity head

On Monday afternoon, with absolutely no prior warning, nor consultation with any parishioners or parish staff, Pastor R. Marc Sherlock fired Principal Robert Herring, leaving the entire parish community in a state of shock and bewilderment. The only communication that has come forth from Father Sherlock has been a letter citing "philosophical differences" with Herring.

Let it be understood that Bob Herring is Nativity School. He is universally loved and respected by anyone who has been a student or a parent of a student there for the past twenty years. An individual of greater talent, integrity and dedication would be impossible to find for this particular job. If there can actually be serious "philosophical differences" between Bob Herring and a pastor over the education of our children, then one can only surmise that this pastor has a very misguided notion of what constitutes a quality education.

Kevin Clarisey, Amberley Village

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Principal Herring had exemplary record

Thank you for your coverage of the sudden and unjust dismissal of Bob Herring, principal of Nativity School.

This is an important story because it demonstrates the tremendous harm that one misguided pastor can inflict upon a parish, hundreds of school children and entire community. Our pastor, acting on his own and without any input from our parish Pastoral Council or Education Commission, fired an award-winning school principal with more than 20 years' experience and an exemplary service record.

The Archdiocese must find a way to reverse this unfortunate and very serious mistake, and do it now. Catherine Valentine, Amberley Village