Jesus said the poor you will always have and you can help them any day you want, but you will not always have me.
That is true but I doubt he imagined the "descendants" of his apostles as living in the lap of luxury, like the German bishop. AmMom's post clarified the situation that prevails in the south. Ironically, at one time, this same dilemma confronted bishops in the north. Today, however, with population shift, the expensive, architectural wonders crafted up north, are now on the auction block. Only the other day, someone posted a thread on the sale of a beautiful church in Syracuse, to Muslims.
The kerfuffle seems to have been started by two obnoxious Ladies of a Certain Age in Cathedral parish. One of them was on the radio this afternoon STILL berating the archbishop and saying that she was "surprised at his apology." She sounds like somebody who has never had to do business in her life.
I doubt that she has any experience in real estate, renovations, or the space and amenities required for an archbishop to do his duties.
My father was the managing partner of a large law firm for many years. It was part of his job duties to entertain clients, and that required space. It's either rent a hall or restaurant, or have a house that's large enough for hosting large groups. Given the number of visiting delegations, visiting priests, dignitaries, etc., it makes perfect sense for the abp's residence to be large enough to entertain comfortably, rather than renting a conference room at the St. Regis or the Ritz-Carlton right up the road for $$$$$. She claims she has been a member of Cathedral parish for 36 years. If so, she should know better than to aggrandize herself on the radio claiming to speak for the parishioners of the Archdiocese.
She sure as (*&^*&^%^% doesn't speak for ME.