Posted on 05/31/2006 9:27:03 AM PDT by petkus
Police called after she was told not to come; she wants documents
A Hopewell woman, a vocal critic of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, was escorted by police from her parish church over the weekend after she refused to leave.
Lynn Allgeier, 58, who has attended St. James Catholic Church in Hopewell for eight years, has tried to get the diocese and her parish to make their financial records available for inspection by the laity. She also wants to read the personnel file of Saint James' pastor, the Rev. Frank L. Wiggins Jr.
"They wouldn't give me a line-by-line budget showing how money is spent. I want that, and I want to know the history of the priest," Allgeier said.
William Etherington, an attorney for the diocese, said Allgeier has been disruptive.
"She accuses people of things that are not true and demands she be able to interview the pastor. The pastor has said, 'I don't want you here.' And he has the right to say that."
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
Every Catholic parish that I've ever heard of has been more than willing to share its financial statements with someone who has a legitimate interest. The fact that this fruitcake wants to see the pastor's personnel file (this is kept at the diocese, by the bishop, and is not shared with ANYBODY, including other priests) tells me she's off the rails mentally. Catholic Churches do not make it a practice to tell a parishioner to go elsewhere; in fact, I've never heard it done.
There doesn't seem to be a mass suspicion in the parish that the pastor is misusing parish funds, or that would have been included in the article.
It appears that the woman is now going to join a Protestant Church, where she can harrass an entire board of deacons.
This is an MSM report ... so I don't know how little of it to believe ... but for a Parish not to release an annual report strikes me as a bit odd.
Let me rephrase one thing: This isn't just an MSM report ... It's the Richmond Slimes-Disgrace, so I don't know how much they're leaving out, distorting, or outright fabricating.
I would never be suspicious of anyone who wants to look at the financial records. I am suspicious of a church that hides them.
Did she ever hear of a place called "court"? If you can't resolve a dispute civilly, that's where you go rather than be a pain in the ass.
Now the court may not have jurisdiction, and if so the matter is over. Go to a different church.
Your comments are inspiring me to think that this lady is on to something; that the Pastor is covering up some sort of malfeasance.
People who were once well thought of do not become nut jobs later on. They are usualy ahead of the curve. I suspect she has been told that the priest has some skeletons in his closet, some of which may be related to finances at a previous parish. Doesn't have to be sexual abuse skeletons.
It seems to me that this particular person wants to look at the books to get something on the pastor; thus her request for his personnel file. The article also doesn't say that she donates any money herself.
The fact that a conservative bishop, DiLorenzo, backs this pastor with his diocesan attorney indicates to me that the lady has too much time on her hands, and the bishop would rather she spend it somewhere else.
Each January our church has an annual meeting whereupon the whole church membership is privy to where our tithes and offerings are spent...we are given the whole budget including what our pastor is paid. In doing so the church body holds our leadership responsible as to what and how things are done. We are then given a vote to pass or oppose any new budget that is proposed. All business done from paper clips and copy paper to missionary spending and building maintenance are accounted for.
No one wants to put their money into a bottomless unaccountable pit....you wouldn't give your money to a stock broker without knowing where he is investing it...you do not want your money going to the government without your vote or say so...I would hope that my money that I give to a church is being spent wisely....and how can I know that unless the church is forthcoming on the information?
As for wanting to know the credentials and history of the man who is ostensibly in charge of the care of my eternal soul and spiritual well being....well a little background check wouldn't hurt...especially in these days when so much corruption is being found in the church.
Before I confessed to anyone my sins...I would want to know if they were prone to gossip, if they have a criminal record, are they trustworthy...do they like little boys. Have he been disciplined in another church and asked to leave....is he one of the offenders who is shuffled around.
All reasonable questions to ask and for an honest upright decent human being, very easy to answer.
My Catholic parish issues quartery financial reports. Every registered parishoner gets a copy in the email.
That does not explain why she should not be able to look at the financial reports. You should be careful to not ascribe pure motives to the Bishop. Not saying he isn't honorable, but even otherwise honorable people do things out of character for reasons they'd rather not share.
In the end, it is my guess that she has good reasons to be suspicious.
That's a good way to burn in hell forever.
So you'd have no objection to having the same background check you suggest.
Does this person have any grounds for her demands/accusations? There's alot missing from this story. I do love how so many here assume that the priest is a criminal of some sort.
Read the first sentence. She is a "vocal critic of the diocese." She's a professional troublemaker, hanging out at the church or the chancery to complain about one thing or another.
Ask your own pastor. I'll bet, if he were willing to tell you, would say that he has one or two of these busybodies harrassing him about liturgy, the school syllabi, drinking at KofC meetings, or her friend in the nursing home who hasn't seen a priest in a month!
I'd wager that DiLorenzo is glad she's going to be a pain in the butt to the Presbyterians for a change.
Thats quite an imflammatory post......
No doubt the voices in her head are telling her she does.
Apostacy is a serious sin.
That's a good way to burn in hell forever.
Are you saying that only Catholics go to heaven and that everyone else is going to burn in hell forever?
It also said in the article she's considering not being a Catholic anymore. From her behavior, it doesn't sound like she ever was. Or maybe some Jack Chick-type got to her, and convinced her that these kinds of records SHOULD be available to view, and if the Church didn't let her, it was proof of some kind of conspiracy, blah blah blah. The point is though if anyone excommunicated anyone else, it's her, by her own actions.
At any rate, it's sad. Sad that someone would put such an emphasis on financial affairs and personnel files, when the point of going to Mass and being part of the Church isn't that at all. The point is to commune with fellow believers, be blessed by Scripture readings and meet the Risen Savior in person.
Like I said I'll keep her in prayer. Seems like she's on a bad path here.
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