I’ve been a member for many years and recently moved to the Hollywood location. My mother had a scheduled appointment with Bishop Claudio Alvarado on a Wednesday evening. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and interact with several bishops, many of whom have been kind, respectful, and compassionate. Unfortunately, our experience with Bishop Claudio Alvarado was deeply disappointing.
Despite my mother having a confirmed appointment, the interaction felt dismissive and discourteous. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment, and no sense of basic courtesy. My mother respectfully introduced herself and reminded him that she had an appointment with him. His response, “Uh, was it you?” was both surprising and disheartening. More importantly, she was not given any meaningful opportunity to speak or explain the purpose of the meeting.
Instead, we were simply directed to speak with someone else. The entire experience left us feeling unheard and unwelcome. I found myself asking a very simple question: Is this how members are meant to be treated when they seek guidance or support?
This situation was genuinely upsetting for us, particularly for my mother, who approached the meeting with respect and sincerity. I believe that leadership roles carry not only responsibility but also an expectation of empathy, patience, and basic human decency.
Bye.