Posted on 07/13/2004 8:55:25 PM PDT by Coleus
| MSGR. MONEYBAGS |
| Manhattan monsignor accused of bilking elderly woman of $490,000 |
| Monsignor asked to quit over missing church money; Manhattan DA ... |
| CHURCH LOU$E |
| SUIT RIPS $INS OF THE FATHER |
| SCANDAL PRIEST WAS ROLEX REV. |
| 'PLUNDER' PRIEST GETS THE BOOT |
It's either sex or money with some of these guys. Reminds me of a deceased monsignor in north Dallas who always made it to the Masters, the Kentucky Derby, and the Super Bowl. Flew first class everywhere he went, and made six trips a year to Vegas to play poker at the $25 ante tables.
Like what, a ladder for a paraplegic?
Looks like a face-lifted smoothy who could charm any number of old ladies out of their life savings.
You lose your bet. I'm Catholic, and I got pinged. And this priest is a scumbag. Satisfied?
Maybe the lady liked the Monsignor very much and wanted to give him a gift.
Diocesan priest do not take vows. They promise celibacy, and obedience to their bishop.
I live about 45 minutes away from St. Meinrad.
Maybe you didn't read the articles where the church fired him and the DA is investigating him for stealing from the "church accounts" to the tune of $1 million.
Woolsey has denied allegations made in the lawsuit, and he has not been charged with any crimes.
I see he has not been charged yet. Who knows?
There were some Catholics here , and in the real world, who felt the story was blown out of proportion and was anti-catholic. There were some who said that the priest "deserved" the money as he took a vow of celibacy! There were also those here who criticised me and hounded me because I claimed that this story would not only pan out to be true, but is actually the tip of the iceberg - in the sense that Woolsey is certainly not the only priest in NYC, or elsewhere, who steals with impunity.
Catholics must stand up for their rights and demand a very strict accounting of parish and diocesan funds. There is the very real need for a finance committee (as directed by Rome)in each parish to manage finances, and protect the interests of the contributors - and to protect the prist from temptation - and from spurious accusations as well! All that free & ready access to money is too much of a temptation for any man!
And again I will say that Woolsey is not the only one with filthy hands in NYC. Those in a position to do so should look closer.
Yeah, yeah... I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt when this news broke.
Alas, I was too generous with by benefit
I see he has not been charged yet. Who knows?>>>
Time will tell...As if the church hasn't suffered enough.
Catholics or anyone else who cover up a crime are just as guilty and sinful. There are a lot of bishops who will have to answer to God for the cover-ups they committed with the scandal. Even the good priests seem to spend too much money on the church building, etc. always getting it painted when it's really not too bad, buying new vestments when the ones he wears are still nice, and other items used during the liturgy which still look new. It's not their money so they don't care.
I have yet to hear of any church in my diocese or any other diocese to undergo an annual, certified and independent audit. Most non profits have to do it so why not the individual churches?
Flew first class everywhere he went, and made six trips a year to Vegas to play poker at the $25 ante tables. >>
Some priests live very well, with our money. I know some come from wealthy backgrounds but those are few and far between. There's a pastor by me who belongs to a country club and leaves for his other home on most Fridays returning Sunday morning to celebrate mass.
I have yet to hear of any church in my diocese or any other diocese to undergo an annual, certified and independent audit. Most non profits have to do it so why not the individual churches?
They do not have certified & independant audits on either the parish or diocesan levels. Cardinal "fast eddie" Egan was responsible for shooting down the concept of such audits for dioceses at the USSBC. Gee.....no big surprise: the worst bastard of a prince of the church want to keep on "living large" and totally unaccountable to his contribuitors!
At the parish level, you at least might have a shot at forcing such an audit - if the pastor permits it (hyterical laughter!). Each parish is supposed to have a Finance Committee with real "teeth" to control, regulate, and oversee parish spending and accounting. In the rare case where such has been implemented, they are ususally run by folks who are appointees of the pastor (or those who kiss his behind), and would not dare to "rock the boat" with sound and open accounting.
All those committees do is usually to "prepare a budget" Uh - huh. And exactly what good does that do, if you don't see the books, bank statements, or sign the checks?
We had a finance committee "once" until one of the members asked our pastor if his mother was able to pick up the phone and dial. The Parish phone bill was very high since the pastor would call his mom in FL almost daily, she would never call him, it's better for us to pay the bill.
After he was questioned, the finance committee seemed to go by the wayside.
The prelates living large is another disgrace entirely. They sure know how to spend other peoples money (usually in multiples of $100,000 or $1,000,000). So much for leading by example.
Technically, each parish is an independant corporation in civil law. But the practical reality is that there is an interlocking directorate. For example, in NY state, the parish corporation has a five man board of directors: president - bishop; vice president - vicar general; secretary/treasurer - pastor; two lay trustees recommended by the pastor & approved by the Bishop.
So - that pretty much sews up the deal. Your parish has its own bank account, but if the pastor doesnt steal, the bishop might through diocesan "assessments" (translated as taxation), forced gifts to the bishop (ala Cardinal Spellman). The then are there is the usary involved in interest bearing "debt" to the bishop (which is amusing, as the money ultimately came from the people of the parish via Diocesan appeals).
The land under the parish buildings would normally be vested in the parish corporation. In the Arch of NY, Cardinal Spellman literally forced all parishes to sell him all the buildings for $1 each! This in effect means that in any lawsuit, against the Archdiocese, each and all of the various parish buildings in all 415 parishes can be counted as assets of the Archdiocese!
Its a sure game - like three card monte, you lose every time. And if the bishop feels like suppressing (translated; closing) the parish, watch the assets disappear without a trace - even restricted endowments! When parishes merge, a lot of guys wearing Roman collars tend to help themselves.
I could easily cite numerous examples, but in general, if it is an "ethnic" (other then Irish) parish which is suppressed, it usually has money, as its members usually gave very well. And we all know of Bishops who love money.
Hear any more news about this case?
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