Comments on: Catholic Finances, Continued

By: Mark Edward

Mark Edward — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 21:48:43 +0000

The Economist may have a skewed view of the Church, but apparently some bishops know how to work the system.
The amount of money that has been paid out to victims and church funds stolen is scandalous.
More attention shoulb be paid by the bishops to leading their flocks and not heading finance committees and USCCB committees.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:12:23 +0000

Perhaps the “US Catholic Church” exists primarily as a “brand.” While I certainly agree that viewing it as one large corporation is not accurate, any complex modern institution (which again may not be relevant…) will know it is important to manage its brand. Each parish, diocese, or order may be legally independent, but there should be a common interest in ensuring that the brand is reputationally supported, by promoting good financial management. This could have many positive benefits that are aligned with our Catholic faith! So, I agree with the initial FT post suggesting that transparency would be for the good. Certainly, I feel my own parish does a good job on this.

By: David Nickol

David Nickol — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:46:54 +0000

Sorry David, but not as a fiscal agent, which is The Economist’s understanding.

Mike,

I read the article, and I did not see any statement that the Catholic Church in America was organized as one large corporation with a CFO. Quibbling about whether there is or isn’t a “U.S. Catholic Church” is pointlessly arguing about definitions. There is a lot of useful and alarming information in the article that any Catholic parish or diocese should be grateful to have. If I were a priest, having read this article, I would definitely take a look into the provisions that were being made for my retirement.

Suppose the article had opened, “OF ALL the organisations that serve America’s poor, few do more good work than the U.S. Catholic Church: its schools and hospitals provide a lifeline for millions.” How many people would have said, “Sorry, there is no such thing as the U.S. Catholic Church.”

It seems to me in certain quarters the first reaction to any press coverage of the Catholic Church (or religion in general) is to assume it is an attack and mount a defense. Remember, Pope John Paul II said, “Be not afraid!”

By: Mike Melendez

Mike Melendez — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:03:43 +0000

Sorry David, but not as a fiscal agent, which is The Economist’s understanding. Each diocese stands on its own with considerable autonomy given to the parishes. And not as a religious agent which depends on all the bishops, worldwide, standing together but limited to understanding what God has revealed. (That is, they can’t make things up.) There is an abstract “U.S. Catholic Church” in the sense that there are a bunch of Catholics who live in the U.S., but that one is hardly unified in effort or thought, except through the worldwide bishops. Perhaps you would prefer, “There is no corporate U.S. Catholic Church”, which is the point.

By: Joe DeVet

Joe DeVet — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:18:43 +0000

There is, rather, a Catholic Church in the US. It is at least misleading to refer to it as a “US Catholic Church”, sometimes rendered “American Catholic Church.” The latter term, and the equivalent “US Catholic Church”, are terms used by dissidents in discussions of faith and morals. Their idea was that the “American Catholic Church” is somehow exempt from some of the teachings of the universal Church because pastoral considerations and cultural realities require revisionism.

Thank God these errors are, step by step, being rooted out and consigned to where they belong, to the dustbin of history, by the relentless march of the truth. Which sets us free in spite of being delivered by a 2000-year-old institution with many human failings.

Further, many think that each bishop heading a US diocese is under the authority of the USCCB in Washington. (Unfortunately, sometimes the USCCB’s modus operandi reinforces this idea.) However, in reality each bishop is answerable directly to the Holy See.

Specifically, the author of this article makes the point that from a financial-controls standpoint there is no US Catholic Church. And there need not be, and there should not be.

By: Linda Wolpert Smith

Linda Wolpert Smith — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:01:48 +0000

Perhaps the comment was not given in this spirit, but in my opinion, “Of course there is.” implies knowledge of the “inner goods” of a particular subject that should be acquired before making a categorical statement about any entity.

If, on the other hand, the comment was intended to refer to lower case “c” catholic groups of diverse beliefs and commitments, that is another matter.

By: Domus Ecclesia Newsify Paul Ryan Catholic Social Teaching | Big Pulpit

Domus Ecclesia Newsify Paul Ryan Catholic Social Teaching | Big Pulpit — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 05:01:39 +0000

[...] The Economist Shows a Lack of Understanding on Church Finances – Mark Gray, 1964 [...]

By: David Nickol

David Nickol — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:01:53 +0000

I have to say that I think it's a little silly for people to expect The Economist to report on the finances of the Catholic Church in America in terms of the Church's self-understanding as both a human and divine organization. I hate to break this to The Economist but there is no “U.S. Catholic Church.” Of course there is.