Posted on 08/05/2013 2:35:47 PM PDT by NYer
a rich priest should . . . if he chooses to.
What happened? Many of us wonder.
Poverty is fine, most priests receive very little from the catholic church. They do not own their cars. The church does.
In the 70’s, our church who had 8 priests, 20 some nuns, and 40 some clergy (St. Benedict’s in Chicago), had a Cadillac with suicide doors. I am not sure of the year model of the car. They all shared it.
Yes, it was a nice car, but, our church also had gold vaulted ceilings, and alabaster columns.
The church was ostentatious to show its power, wealth, as were all Catholic Church’s.
By no means were the priests getting rich.
My priest in Nova Scotia, Pere Marinelli, drove a Mercedez. He would fit as many young hockey players into his car as possible to take them to a game. I don’t think anybody ever questioned his integrity and unselfishness. People cried when he was transferred from the parish. I remember him to this day.
Priests are free and are able to drive anything they can afford. Those with a vow of poverty probably raise eyebrows by driving Corvettes, and that means their “vow of poverty” is being cheapened in the eyes of outsiders. In their case, I’d say it isn’t wise, but that doesn’t change their freedom.
With diocesan or others with no vow of poverty, then they should drive what they can afford to drive.
Some time ago, our parish priest (a navy chaplain) bought a very well used TVR 2500 sports car and I spent a lot of time helping him get that thing running. One Saturday, he was driving with excessive brio and we were pulled over. The cop was apparently a Catholic too and when he spotted our priest’s roman collar, he said something like: “Father! What were you doing driving like that?”. Our hotrodding priest said “Oh, give me a break - I gave up sex, didn’t I?”. The red-faced young cop just told to get going and behave.
Some time ago, our parish priest (a navy chaplain) bought a very well used TVR 2500 sports car and I spent a lot of time helping him get that thing running. One Saturday, he was driving with excessive brio and we were pulled over. The cop was apparently a Catholic too and when he spotted our priest’s roman collar, he said something like: “Father! What were you doing driving like that?”. Our hotrodding priest said “Oh, give me a break - I gave up sex, didn’t I?”. The red-faced young cop just told to get going and behave.
I’d ditch the Audi and put him in a Jeep, even more safer, reliable and less expensive.
How is that parish doing now?
Parish priest in Elk Grove circa 1980s, had a new small chevy every other year. Donated by the local Chevy dealer who also took him to the London car show every year, where the priest would hop on a flight and go to Ireland to visit his family.
Good guy and good deal.
When I worked for the state in south Sac, I had many occasions to check a car out of the car pool. Usually had a choice pinto or chevette. On a hot day I had to shut off the air to make it up most onramps and merge into traffic without being killed. I’m sure they bought 4 cylinders which came with 2.
Many diocesan priests have their own cars as they typically have not taken a vow of poverty.
Lol!!
That is a safety issue; I really cannot stand underpowered cars! If you want small with decent gas mileage get an old Miata; they typically still have the horsepower to move out of the way.
That President Reagan was never chauffeured? Because that would be false.
Or that Pope Francis has never driven himself anywhere? Because that also would be false.
Nice picture, though.
Nice people should enjoy their nice things.
There is always going to be some poor drunken wretch too ignorant to help himself let alone anyone else. That doesn’t mean the religious experience has to be cheapened for all the rest - imho.
The '34 Stutz Bearcat
Jeeps roll over, and the car you have is more economical than the car you don’t.
For a priest who has to drive around a lot - a big parish, or several parishes - a good quality, reliable car makes sense.
I can see that the optics of a high-end luxury sedan or sports car are bad, and it also is not as useful for hauling a bunch of parishioners or sisters about, not to mention the new washing machine for the rectory . . .
But I can see a high-end SUV or crossover because of the versatility, reliability, safety, and comfort. You don't want to be in a bouncing tin can if you're on the road for a good part of the day.
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