We think the Catholic Diocese of Springfield doth protest too much.

In an emotional, wide-ranging letter Thursday, the Rev. Msgr. John J. Bonzagni chastised a recent Transcript editorial for being sarcastic, cynical and off the mark concerning the diocese's plan to deal with the inevitable consolidation of parishes and closing of churches.

Msgr. Bonzagni, a good-hearted man who is director of pastoral planning for the diocese, also complained that he and another church representative had spent 90 minutes speaking with the Transcript editor and a reporter, and somehow we still didn't understand the process.

Maybe we didn't understand the process the way the diocese would like to spin it. But we understand full well what will happen in the coming years, if not months. Parishes will consolidate and churches will close. And, however many spoonfuls of sugar the diocese wants to dish out to make parishioners throughout this region swallow that medicine - be they "listening sessions" with the powers that be or fatherly pats on the back, the hammer will fall.

The simple point of the editorial was to rally the Catholic faithful who want to save their parishes and their churches to their own cause. The handwriting is on the wall,

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and they have little time to act. No more, perhaps, is that more relevant than in the case of St. Francis of Assisi in North Adams, which is struggling with limited parking and the need for major renovations and whose suggested fate has already been mapped out - by its own priest, among others in the diocese's hierarchy.

The Rev. Msgr. Bonzagni himself has stated the need for consolidation and has acknowledged churches will close. We believe Catholic parishioners - all of them who care and are knowledgeable about the issues - should have more of a voice in these important matters than 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon, in sessions attended by a selected few.

The diocese may own the church buildings, but the parishioners own their parishes. If they want to preserve them, they will have to make their case and fight for them. That's not sarcastic or cynical or misinformed. That's reality.