Seems to me that it's none of her business how the church spends money. If she gives money it's freely given by her choice but I suspect she doesn't give. I also doubt she has any right to info on the priest either.
I think she needs to put some ice on it and go to a church that agrees with her demands if they choose to do so.
Actually, I've attended three churches since I accepted Christ in 1980. They all gave annual financial reports. They all operated under the paradigm that we SHOULD know how our money is being used.
'Course, none of them was Catholic. They may have different rules.
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.
Meanwhile, on another thread, Catholic and Orthodox fiscal policies are praised, and Protestant policies lambasted, over the same issue.
I wouldn't attend a church whose budget wasn't available for all members to review. Our membership votes on the budget. A secret budget is an open invitation to misuse by the powers that be.
The books of non-profits - including religious ones are supposed to be open & transparent.
If it is a not-for-profit corporation then the church may not have a choice.
Many states have laws which require the financial records be available to members and or regulators and or the public.
not only that, we Catholic laity had better be prepared to take over a larger share of running a parish, because we don't have enough priests to go around....and, its better for us to be more participatory, anyway....