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To: dangus
Thor, that is quite misleading
As someone who has in a position to know as a layman, I will repeat: each parish pays a "tax" or assessment to the Bishop. This has nothing to do with any sort of annual appeal. In the Arch of NY it is called "Interparish Finance". This "tax" is levied on all parishes, based upon their annual reported gross receipts from all fund raising. Those parishes which are wealthier do not get any of the monies back. Those parishes which are "on the dole" either for a subsidy to their operational expenses, or for capital improvements, get the money back - and then some, either in the form or loans (at interest) or outright grants.
There is a very serious question about the morality of the diocese charging a parish interest on a loan. Firstly, it is immoral on a purely scriptural basis. Secondly, the money "loaned to a parish", is actually the dollars of the parishioners (either channeled through the "tax" or the annual diocesan appeal, or both). So the people of a parish are saddled with paying interest on a loan, which was their money in the first place! This is morally and ethically questionable - to say the least! i would quarrel that parishes are obligated to pay back such "loans" - much less any interest on them, as it was their money in the first place! The whole thing reeks of "scam".
Want another scam? You are usually required to go through the diocesan building commission for approval to do capital improvement/repair jobs. They will give you a contractor of questionable work ethics (you usually have no choice in the selection of the contractor), who will charge a grossly inflated price for the job. On top of that price, your parish must pay a 5% fee to the Building Commission for their "services!
Please do not even "go there" on the subject of parish closings -it is immoral.
Annual Diocesan appeals are quite another issue. Each parish is assessed a goal based on past performance - period. The pastor is expected to make this goal, or face reprisals & investigations into the parish finances. I have known of priests in poorer parishes who literally tool cash from their pockets - or had family members chip in - so they could meet the goal. As much as such appeals may be necessary, there is nothing fair or equitable about the goals for poorer parishes.
The worth of the existence of a parish should never be determined in $$$. A mission parish with few souls attending it is precious in the sight of God - one soul is precious in the sight of God!
As one who has worked in this field, has seen books, bills etc., I know well whereof I speak.
Regarding the morality of diocesan financing and "taxing parishes", it is a nasty business. In a way it is as immoral as foreign debt! This, combined with the rampant stealing by pastors (which happens much more often then most people are aware), is robbing parishes - is robbing the faithful. In my opinion, anyone who find these above enumerated practices to be morally permissible is in need of an examination of conscience. The patrimony of the church belongs to "the people" who contribute to make it a reality. Priests and prelates are caretakers of that patrimony - it is not their plaything, toy, exclusive province, nor is it an investment opportunity!
53 posted on 07/21/2004 10:59:40 AM PDT by thor76 (Vade retro, Draco! Crux sacra sit mihi lux!)
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To: thor76

I will believe you if you assert there is such a thing as "interparish finance" in the New York (arch)diocese, but it is even only within the diocese itself, and not in the Rockville Center diocese, which falls under the NY archdiocese. What you describe may be a fairly unique circumstance, given the very drastic wealth discrepancies in NYC, and the fact that parishes in NYC cover such tiny geographic areas. (Manhattan has a population density four times any city or county outside New York in America.)

As for the diocese taking "the parish's" money, you talk like a Calvinist! Once that money is put in the collection basket, it is the diocese's. Parishes are not separate little corporations. Like any large organization, each division has its own budget and its own accounts and its own responsibilities, but the whole diocese is all, ultimately, one source.

So, yes, there's a building commission. And there should be. The diocese has every right to make sure its not going to have to bail out a parish which could not afford to pay the debts in incurs when it begins to build.

Your a bit of an expert on your parish's finances are you? Take a look at a diocesan budget. See where the money goes. Here in the Arlington diocese, the vast majority goes to... building new churches! Go find out who footed the bill for your parish's original church. Here's a hint: mission parishes don't have any capital.

If any priest is stealing money from his church, that is an obvous horrible scandal. But should a diocese be forced to redistribute monies among its branches er, parishes, that's not stealing.


56 posted on 07/21/2004 12:20:05 PM PDT by dangus
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To: thor76

Paragraphs are our frieds........please.


60 posted on 07/21/2004 6:04:10 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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