I have long been a critic of the Diocese of Leeds's closure of churches since the magnificent church of Mount St Mary's closed in 1989.

Ackworth it has a substantial catholic history. The Tempest family lived with the Howards there in the former Ackworth Grange and Pugin designed a wonderful catholic chapel there.

A parishioner comments "we feel the consultation was decided before it begun". This is precisely the attutude people have at St John's, Allerton Bywater.

The fact that the priest in charge of Allerton Bywater has not been given an appointment and many other priests have been allowed to leave the diocese tells a story of its own that we are certainly not short of priests.

"The diocese has pledged to retain historic buildings" we are told. Can they explain why St Mary's Bradford, a masterpiece, was recently closed, St Patrick's, Leeds, is now a theatre store, St Patrick's, Bradford's future is according to the Bishop "uncertain" and to mention it again, Mount St Mary's has been left to rot.

The East Bank Regeneration Project have in the last few years been taking photos inside the church for the regeneration and lo and behold, things which were not listed and could have been moved – statues, the War Memorial, memorials to the first Fathers and Sisters – are left there to rot instead of being moved to Corpus Christi, Halton Moor, for example, or other churches. I've never known a clerical community with such a disregard for its history than our present catholic clergy.

For many years the Leeds Diocese has been used to getting complaints from the odd person and fringe groups. However I feel that in this area they have now upset the majority of practising Catholic families. If there is a perfectly good reason for this let a member of the clergy enlighten the YEP.

Matthew Wright, Castleford