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Few dioceses admit willingness to pay for visitation
Oct. 26, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionJust two of 61 U.S. archdioceses and dioceses contacted by NCR said they would dip into local church coffers to support the Vatican's controversial visitation of U.S. women religious congregations.
NCR called and e-mailed every archdiocese in the country, as well as a sampling of 29 dioceses across time zones. Twenty-two archdioceses responded to the inquiry, while only seven dioceses did. Many refused to comment, while others cited the difficult economy as a reason they would not contribute to the three-year visitation process, which the Vatican estimates will cost $1.1 million.
Cardinal Franc Rodé, head of the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, has asked the U.S. bishops to support the three-year study. "I am asking you, my brother bishops, for your help in offsetting the expenses which will be incurred by this work for the future of apostolic religious life in the United States," Rodé said in a July 14 letter to every U.S. bishop. If every one of the 178 Latin rite dioceses contributed equally, the tab would be nearly $6,200 each.
"There are several orders that have their roots in our archdiocese and the archbishop, Joseph Kurtz, has communicated his desire to cooperate with this visitation," said Cecelia Price, spokeswoman for the Louisville, Ky., archdiocese. In addition, said Price, "it is customary that expenses related to initiatives of the Holy See ... are shared by the U.S. diocese."
This sentiment was shared by Salt Lake City Bishop John Wester, according to spokeswoman Colleen Gudreau. "We cooperate with all church activities," she said.
Custom notwithstanding, several dioceses indicated they will pass on this collection. "We have no vested interest in this, as we have no institutes of religious in this diocese, so I see no reason to contribute," Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Ore., told NCR.
"We are not going to be able to contribute," said Los Angeles archdiocesan spokesperson Tod Tamberg. The archdiocese, he said, is facing tough financial times. "I'm calling from a cubicle in a rented warehouse the diocese used to own. We've had no pay raises for clergy or staff in two years."
Meanwhile, Deacon Jake Arellano of the Pueblo, Colo., diocese said, "We do not have the funds to support this. We are settling 26 clergy abuse cases and we are a mission diocese. We are hurting."
Others, such as Omaha, Neb., Archbishop George Lucas, are keeping their decisions private. "He hasn't made a decision and he won't discuss it when he does," said a spokesperson for Lucas.
Likewise, Jim Goodness, spokesman for Newark, N.J., Archbishop John Myers, said, "The archbishop makes these decisions privately."
In Chicago, archdiocesan spokesperson Colleen Dolan said, "Cardinal Francis George does not discuss his personal correspondence between the Vatican and himself."
Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk "has not responded to Cardinal Rodé," according to spokesperson Dan Andriacco.
No response or "no comment" came from the archdioceses of Washington; Denver; Hartford, Conn.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Galveston-Houston; New Orleans; St. Paul-Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Boston; San Francisco; Anchorage, Alaska; and Indianapolis.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan's spokesman, Joseph Zwilling, said he asked three chancery staff about the Rodé letter, and "nobody knows what I am talking about."
In the Baltimore archdiocese, communications director Sean Caine sent a recent column by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien by way of response. "I cannot help but see some reactions on the sisters' part which were very similar to those on the part of formation and seminary personnel at the announcement of both prior visitations," wrote O'Brien. "Why us? Why now? Why the secrecy? Have we done something wrong?"
He continued, "In time, once the process gained momentum, most of the seminaries accepted the visitation and in the end even found it most beneficial. I hope and pray the same will be said about the current visitation."
Judy Gross writes from Tallahassee, Fla.
If and when pressed by Rome,
If and when pressed by Rome, those wishing a red hat will, indeed, stuff the coffers.
So much for the touted
So much for the touted solidarity in the Church, even when some dioceses are "hurting".
Interesting how bishops
Interesting how bishops figure it is their decision alone whether or not to support this witch hunt withour money! My stance is: "No say; no pay."
I would also ask a simple
I would also ask a simple question. Seminaries, Womens Religious Congregations, and others have some obvious need for oversight and evaluation for the purposes of correction, renewal, etc. Who evaluates the Curia and the college of bishops, which includes the Pope? Checks and balances are seen as important and necessary, but why is this process always one way - and that is from the top. Good managerial practices include evaluation of the entire organization - even the Roman Catholic Church. When those on top of the pyramid forget to listen to the entire community and hold themselves accountable to the CHURCH - then we get into deep trouble. Why, for instance, have the bishops not been evaluated and held accountable for their responsibility for the expansion of the sexual abuse crisis? Why do the bishops hold themselves above and apart from the wider commuinity? They appear to act like the congressmen and senators who pass laws for everybody but themselves, but even these politicians have to place their names up for re-election on a regular basis. Unless of ccourse, they are acting as an oligarchy, choosing their own successors and beholden to no one.
I could not have said it
I could not have said it better. Coodos to the writer. Everyone, even the bishops should be held accountable to the people they serve..the other denominations do.11
Good for you, Mr. Boiser!
Good for you, Mr. Boiser!
I am informing my parish that
I am informing my parish that ALL monies donated by me are to remain within the parish for specific parish needs. Nothing to the bishop or Rome! Nothing until they rid themselves of their arrogance and insensitivity to our real needs - married clergy and openness to ordained women. Nothing! CRS and Covenant House certainly will get something when I have it. Nothing until this insulting "investigation" is cancelled!
Me too :)
Me too :)
Good luck. The only way to
Good luck. The only way to ensure that none of money goes to Rome is to not give the parish the money in the first place.
"Married clergy and openness
"Married clergy and openness to ordained women" constitute real needs? Apparently Ron B has decided what the Church's "real needs" are, and many Americans agree with him. On the other hand, many Americans, and most Africans, don't. Ron B complains about Rome's "arrogance." Well, his little letter sounds utterly arrogant to me.
The only arrogance that
The only arrogance that exists comes from people who think they can manipulate Jesus like a puppet to excuse their rotten opression and harassment of women religious, clergy and faithful and then have the gaul to ask them to pay for their dirty deeds.
Don't forget to lock to door
Don't forget to lock to door and turn out the lights when you leave. When the Church has no one to minister to its people because married clergy (unless Anglican) or women are excluded and the men aren't stepping up, you may very well be one of the last. There won't be any more Catholics, but that's okay. Just as long as some long ago custom is kept clean, then all is well.
i don't think contacting your
i don't think contacting your parish will do it. what i have done is contribute to specific projects in the parish. one such project is a "tuition fund" for the school, with donations going to help those who are having a difficult time paying the tuition for parochial education. i will not contribute any money to the general collection because it will be used for whatever the diocese demands, such as assessments or settling lawsuits. in this country, the only voice any of us have is with our pocketbooks. withhold funds, yes someone gets hurt. but i am looking at the larger picture. as a woman, i am unable to support a sexist institution, one which claims to be a sacramental church but doesn't acknowledge as sacrament the vocations of these women.
And let's not forget to
And let's not forget to "Support Our Aging Religious" at www.soar-usa.org providing much needed financing to retired religious who worked for decades for room and board without even basic social security benefits.
To have social security or
To have social security or not was the choice of each religious order itself, not the evil hierarchy.
You're wrong. It was the
You're wrong. It was the "evil hierarchy", i.e., the bishops who rule the women's congregations, who decided not to enroll the nuns in Social Security.
(If you think your absurd statement is true, mention one order that chose not to enroll its members in Social Security.)
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS257&q=nuns+...
I doubt your wishes will be
I doubt your wishes will be respected.
Parishioners need to set up separate financial accounts for parish administration and upkeep, community outreach, etc. and make sure that such accounts cannot be touched by the pastor or bishop (I say 'pastor' since he reports to the bishop).
If such cannot be done, I recommend what others have suggested: divert your contributions to other worthy programs, Catholic or otherwise, whose accounts cannot be touched by the bishops and that will use your donations to help folks in need.
Money is power. Wealthy, anonymous traditionalists have recognized this reality for many years as they've supported reactionary popes and bishops. It's time for the average pewsitter to do the same.
Why would any diocese want to
Why would any diocese want to pay for this 'visit?' If Rome feels as though it is needed, then let Rome pay for it!
STAY ON IT, NCR. Help us to
STAY ON IT, NCR. Help us to FOLLOW THE MONEY!
"NCR called and e-mailed every archdiocese in the country, as well as a sampling of 29 dioceses across time zones."
Amen to that! and...please
Amen to that! and...please support NCR's work!
$1 million could feed a lot
$1 million could feed a lot of hungry people; seems like they could do it for less. Also, the Vatican ought to have enough money to self-finance its studies.
"Also, the Vatican ought to
"Also, the Vatican ought to have enough money to self-finance its studies."
Ah, no, that's why they're so interested in those wealthy Anglicans!
Does the Vatican lack money
Does the Vatican lack money to finance its holier-than-thou investigation? Somehow American women religious must have gone astray when responding to Pope John XXIII's call to reform. Indeed, they responded brilliantly and selflessly. Yes, $1 million dollars could bring about some wonderful work, if used to target tragedies like famine, natural disasters, infant mortality, homelessness, refugee support, illiteracy, etc. Interesting that recently the Vatican declared some new "cardinal sins" --among them "excessive wealth." The irony, of course, is that the Vatican itself is a prime example of "excessive wealth." Sell some statues, melt down some gold, auction off some jewels--let some of that wealth first be applied to the overwhelming cost of lawsuits against priests. Why no investigation of priests and bishops when, clearly, it was needed? What really motivates this investigation of American women religious? American Catholics stand behind and applaud their women religious who have served in schools, hospitals, clinics, orphanages and missions throughout the US and the world. Did any of them get rich? Do they drive expensive cars and take expensive vacations? Do they play 18 holes of golf regularly? Are they cloaked in ermine robes? Are they even able to collect Social Security in their old age? The Archdiocese of Chicago was stunned when their planned 3-year campaign was met and surpassed in a single collection held one Sunday in all of their parishes: to help communities of women religious finance the needs of their elderly sisters. American Catholics responded with such beneficience because their lives had been deeply touched by the service of these women. The collection boxes that day spoke loudly that American Catholics love their women religious and acknowledge their integrity, sacrifice and unflinching dedication of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were never in it for themselves...remember that. If parishioners were asked to support this current Vatican investigation, how many pennies would we hear clunking in those collection boxes?
a message should be sent,
a message should be sent, enthusiastically, telling the vatican the 'inquiry' is unnecessary, disrespectful, and seen by many laity as a witch hunt that will yield no Christ-like result either for the personnel that come from Rome or for the American religious who are so very deserving of every positive tribute that can come from the vatican.....further, to the 'vatican'... : if you want the trip, break open your own copious piggy bank and pay for it....... -
The "Private" decicions and
The "Private" decicions and "no comment" responses to the individual dioceses is exactly what I'm doing when I hear any further requests for donations of any kind from my parish that may find their way into the coffers supporting the visitation. More accurately, I won't participate further in this closed, secretive "pay, pray and obey" mentality.
Where do these bishops think the money comes from other than from contributions? Any money they EVER receive isn't theirs to cloak in secrecy. It is generously given to them. They have an obligation to disclose where every penny goes. I've said it before, I'm done, put a fork in me. Ludicrous...
One reason the Bishops may
One reason the Bishops may not have paid is because the have not had time to consider it. They are too busy completing a SECRET questionnaire about women religious sent to them by the Vatican. This is to be a confidential matter but several good bishops let the cat out of the bag.
Stevie: Is the bishops
Stevie: Is the bishops questionairre different from the one that went to the Sisters? If so, can you share it?
I think that we have much in
I think that we have much in common with O'Brien
I have two thoughts on this.
I have two thoughts on this. 1)This would be a great chance for dioceses and archdioceses to publicly stand up for the sisters who work in their diocese (which apparently is not happening anywehre), and 2)$1.1 million could go a long way in works of justice.
2 very good thoughts--I
2 very good thoughts--I agree!
Dear Pat Metz, I doubt that
Dear Pat Metz,
I doubt that bishops will stand in solidarity with women religious since some of the bishops called for this visitation/inquisition. Naturally, we won't know who they are because everything surrounding the visitation is SECRET, SECRET, SECRET. Those who have no personal power use SECRECY...this power is an illusion but don't tell those in authority they might cry...in SECRET of course.
This is a work of justice.
This is a work of justice. Justice for thousands of Catholics being led into sin by these women. Justice for millions of children whose death is being actively sought by some of these women.
Break every oppression. Break
Break every oppression. Break every yoke. This is a work of justice. Justice for thousands of Catholics being led into sin by these Bishops and Pope.
Let us hope that when the
Let us hope that when the Vatican officials discern the lack of interest and support for this "visitation", they will permanently retire this suggestion that reflects poorly on the source.
Why should a very small
Why should a very small diocese be billed the same amount as a HUGE ARCHDIOCESE? It is like a man who has a large flock of sheep taking a lamb from the table of a poor man. It is an unwelcome charge for an unwelcome process. At least be fair in assessing charges.
Rome has never been on the
Rome has never been on the side of fairness when it comes to internal matters. They really don't practice what they preach.
The only way to ensure the
The only way to ensure the bishops do not contribute to the fund is for us to withhold all contributions to our churches until the bishops unequivocally state they will not contribute to this witch hunt. Money is the only weapon we have and money is what is most important to the hierarchy, just behind power. There are many woman's religious orders that could use our money toward their retirement funds.
Bravo! If we could get just
Bravo! If we could get just half the Catholic church in the U.S. to do this for a day or better yet a month we would see change. It's the only way.
We need to get the word out
We need to get the word out beyond this blog to all parishes and all dioceses.
Any ideas?
As for bishops keeping their
As for bishops keeping their decision to fund or not to fund secret, they owe transparency to ALL the people of their diocese...afterall, it's the people's money, not the bishop's.
The secrecy just oozes and drips from this entire "visitation".
Of course, the diocese should
Of course, the diocese should not pay for this inquisition! Good for the
decision makers in this cause.
"There are several orders
"There are several orders that have their roots in our archdiocese and the archbishop, Joseph Kurtz, has communicated his desire to cooperate with this visitation," says a spokeswoman for the Louisville archdiocese.
I'm not surprised.
Kurtz chairs the U.S. bishops' marriage committee, and, if the draft "pastoral" letter on this subject is any indication, he shares the general ignorance of his fellow hierarchs on the subject.
About a year after his arrival in Louisville, he told all parishes to install (or reinstall) kneelers.
Kurtz also was scheduled to speak before the Opus Dei regional meeting in Chicago earlier this year (this trip was discreetly mentioned in the archdiocesan paper). So far as I know, we've learned nothing of his remarks, etc. at this event.
It would seem that Kurtz is like virtually all of his fellow hierarchs: not from the local see he manages, an ecclesial "suckup" to Rome, ad nauseum.
And the institutional crap continues......
My understanding is that, if
My understanding is that, if the bishops do not help to underwrite the cost of this debacle, then the entire cost will somehow be charged to the religious congregations. Have I missed something? I have never read anything indicating that the Vatican has any intention of paying for this witch hunt.
The Sisters should refuse.
The Sisters should refuse. If it were me, I'd call the police when any strange inquisitors came knocking. As far as questionaires there's a filing cabnet called the trash can.
Catholic heirarchs are asking for a showdown at the O.K. Corral.
Great idea. That's just like
Great idea. That's just like refusing the breath test when pulled over. You can refuse, but a refusal is an automatic guilty plea. What are these sisters so afraid of?
The Sisters are not afraid.
The Sisters are not afraid. And refusal would not make them guilty of anything except standing up to those who verbally batter them. It is friends of the Sisters who are fearful for them. Some of us who have had first hand experience over the years know the visciousness of the conservative, anti Vatican II, woman-hating, thugs that have not been above making physical threats to those they disagree with including nuns.
Just because a diocese didn't
Just because a diocese didn't respond to your request or is not contributing does not necessarily mean that the bishop of that diocese does not support the Apostolic Visitation. Whether or not diocese contribute or not, the Apostolic Visitation will take place. Sorry. This is a non-story.
I can't wait for your next attempt at sabotaging the process. Maybe your next story's headline will be "Nun Bites Bishop as Bishop Writes Check for Apostolic Visitation"?
TNCath on Oct. 27, 2009. You
TNCath on Oct. 27, 2009.
You stated:
"Just because a diocese didn't respond to your request or is not contributing does not necessarily mean that the bishop of that diocese does not support the Apostolic Visitation. Whether or not diocese contribute or not, the Apostolic Visitation will take place. Sorry. This is a non-story.
I can't wait for your next attempt at sabotaging the process. Maybe your next story's headline will be "Nun Bites Bishop as Bishop Writes Check for Apostolic Visitation"?"
-----------------------------------------
Actually what is needed is more pointed letter writing to Arch/bishops expressing displeasure in these investigations (and the other ridiculous issues that the bishops are involved in---marriage pastoral---Latinized English changes in the liturgy).
In addition, letters should be sent to Francis Cardinal George, current president of the USCCB. Of course, Cardinal George would like American Catholics to be "simply Catholic" (translated as 'stupidly' Catholic) and stop focusing their attention on the American bishops. But that is hard to do, when: 1) Nobody is investigating the Bishops---and a thorough investigation of the American hierarchy is badly needed and 2) the Bishops are always in the spotlight (often making fools of themselves) exceptions to that are far and few in between.
Maybe we could write reps of
Maybe we could write reps of the US government concerned with un american activities to insist on a visitation and questionaire for every bishop and cardinal and diocese including the USCCB to make sure they are not using religion for purposes of class, gender, creedal, or racist oppression etc.
Follow the money: No
Follow the money: No funding; no visitation.
Praise God! The Spirit is,
Praise God! The Spirit is, indeed, moving throughout our land.
Wow! Will the hierarchy of
Wow! Will the hierarchy of the Catholic church never cease to amaze us? How dare the Vatican ask dioceses to pay for the visitation when it is the Vatican that has asked for the inquisition?! Diocese have nothing to do with religious women! Some diocese probably don't even have any congregations left in them any more! These men really are brazen in carrying their power - not true authority, but power - to the limit! I hope all the bishops tell them to find another source of income for this lame excuse of an inquiry to find out about the "quality of life" of religious women.
Wow. Will the Government of
Wow. Will the Government of the United States never cease to amaze us! They continue to tax us to pay for foreign abortions and now they want to sneak in legislation to make us pay for them here--and we didn't even ask for it.
By the way, if some dioceses don't have congregations left in them, do you think that just maybe one reason for the visitation is to ask why this is so? Perhaps the Church is concerned that several of the larger LCWR orders in my area have not had even a postulant admitted in the order in over 30 years?
I wish people would use
I wish people would use another word for the "Visitation" than "witch hunt." Inquisition is the best I guess. In American culture, witch hunt is a Calvinist thing and well, a little sexist. Inquisition has a fine masculine feel to it. The nuns who have had the courage to tough it out and continue devoting their lives to Christ and love deserve a more heroic appellation than witch.
The truly disturbing thing about this affair and its prime operative, Franc Cardinal Rode, is the rotten corruption that is bubbling to the surface in the Vatican. While nuns dedicated to service and true to their vows of poverty are being prepped for a burning at the stake, the Vatican insiders, including Rode, are feasting on $1,000 hams, gift of the corrupt, fascists of the Legion of Christ.
Jesus must be weeping.
johnklotz@johnklotz.com
I completely concur wih
I completely concur wih "anonymous" who said: "The only way to ensure the bishops do not contribute to the fund is for us to withhold all contributions to our churches until the bishops unequivocally state they will not contribute to this witch hunt. Money is the only weapon we have and money is what is most important to the hierarchy, just behind power. There are many woman's religious orders that could use our money toward their retirement funds."
In addition, I would add that this is a wonderful opportunity to let the Vatican know where we, the laity, stand on how their assumption that we shouldn't have a voice in decisions or the direction of the Church. Maybe they will finally begin to listen to what we want in our church besides a return to a pre-Vatican mentality with its rules,regulations, censures and secret investigations. Money talks.
Does any one else find this a
Does any one else find this a strange line:
-Meanwhile, Deacon Jake Arellano of the Pueblo, Colo., diocese said, "We do not have the funds to support this. We are settling 26 clergy abuse cases and we are a mission diocese. We are hurting."-
And it is the sisters who are being investigated? Huh?
Because the bishops have
Because the bishops have owned up while the LCWR congregations continue to reject pleas from their abuse victims for recognition and justice. Sisters, remember at your last big LCWR meeting when you were decrying the injustice and prejudice of the big bad men in Rome--did you hear the knocking at the door?? That was the victims of your abuse crying for justice as you slammed the door in their face!
I just sent in my check!
I just sent in my check!
O, poo!
O, poo!
No--cash not poo.
No--cash not poo.
Dirty cash. (sorry for late
Dirty cash.
(sorry for late reply)
I would like to see NCR do
I would like to see NCR do some exploring about this "confidential" questionnaire sent to bishops about religious women. What is this all about?
I suspect the money will be
I suspect the money will be coming--secretly. Notice the conservatives in Chicago and Newark don't discuss anything when it comes to money. They live a life of secrets. Rode must be regretting his announcement of asking for the money. This won't happen again. Back to the secrets. And to complete the circle of secrecy---the report will be secret. Kafka where are you now that we need you? So some day something will happen to the nuns. But they will be sworn to secrecy.
I'm sure I speak for many
I'm sure I speak for many Australian Catholics who are similarly offended by the "visitation" and the request for alms to fund the unwanted intervention.
Oh Lord that the arrogant
Oh Lord that the arrogant hierarchy living in luxury on yhe backs of the faithful, rich and poor, would only follow in Christs Footsteps and not that of the greedy, worldly, selfish, profligates that abound everywhere.
How much money are Catholics
How much money are Catholics wasting by supporting the livelihoods of worldly-minded women's religious whose loyalties to the Church and belief in Jesus have been replaced by pure ideology? The Catholic faithful trust women religious as representatives of the Catholic Church, but it seems that nothing could be farther from the truth. The only reason, no doubt, that many women religious remain Catholic in name is so that they can suck their livelihood from the ever-trusting faithful.
Yes, WITHHOLD ALL MONEY, not
Yes, WITHHOLD ALL MONEY, not one penny should go for this degrading and humiliating witch hunt of our women Religious. It would be like funding a far right political group like the" BIrchers" because this entire campaign is nothing but a political witch hunt and a very shameful one at that. This really needs to receive as much attention in the media as possible. Follow the money, NCR and you will find more than you expect.
Being a Chicago Catholic, I'm
Being a Chicago Catholic, I'm not at all surprised by the comment
"In Chicago, archdiocesan spokesperson Colleen Dolan said, "Cardinal Francis George does not discuss his personal correspondence between the Vatican and himself."
However, I think that since monies sent from the archdiocese to the Vatican would be coming from the parish collections, he needs to be a little less arrogant and a little more open.
I once attended a parish
I once attended a parish meeting in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where the pastor put the question to the Laity as to whether their parish should contribute to the appeal by Cardinal Roger Mahony to donate to cover the costs of the clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. I'm very proud to say those good people voted, "NO".
Now we have the Vatican City State asking the "People in the Pews" to pay for an investigation of, probably, the hardest working people in the Catholic Church; our Women Religious. It is an insult to these Good Women of the Church who, through their self sacrifice and devotion, are the only thing left that is good about our church.
I agree that the male Clergy, the Bishops and the Cardinals of the Church are more in need of a "cleansing" than the Roman Catholic Women Religious.
Where's the TRANSPARENCY with
Where's the TRANSPARENCY with OUR money Archbishop John Myers?? Please respond. Here's your opportunity to catechize. Are you truly a shepherd of your flock or a wolf in sheep's clothing? I'm not holding my breath and your silence will speak volumes.
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