"Klepto-Clerics"
With the recent investigation of Catholic churches because of the sex-abuse scandals, now other problems are coming to light as church records are examined and the laity are more emboldened to tell the truth about their priests. This was reported in a Feb 15 Time magazine article titled, "Pilfering Priests."
"Klepto-Clerics" is what the article calls those priests who've been stealing money from their parishes. More and more priests are being exposed. The article gave a few examples:
1. One priest in Florida "gave a 'girlfriend' $134,000, made rare coin purchases for $275,000, and owned an oceanfront condominium worth $455,000." And – when investigations began, he gave each church secretary a Christmas card with $1,500 in it, hoping to buy their silence!
2. "Last year a Connecticut priest was accused of pilfering up to $1.4 million to pay for his Audi cars, luxury-hotel stays, jewelry for his boyfriend, and a Fort Lauderdale condo."
3. "Last month a Virginia priest was indicted for allegedly embezzling $600,000 from two Catholic churches – in part to help support the woman and three children he had been secretly living with."
What's the problem? A college professor specializing in church finances said, "I'm appalled at the lack of internal (financial) controls at Catholic parishes."
Even a Catholic diocesan auditor said, "Some pastors still carry an Old World attitude that what's in the collection baskets is theirs personally to do with as they wish."
However, the article asks the BEST question: "But as in the sex-abuse crisis, many are asking, 'Where are the bishops?'"
Exactly!!
Are the bishops acting to reform the financial audit process? According to the article, "Only a handful...of US dioceses are cracking down" on this financial malfeasance. And here's the kicker:
"The US Conference of Catholic Bishops insists that canon law does not allow the Vatican or the Conference to impose such reforms on dioceses."
"Where are the bishops?" The answer is – hiding behind "canon law." How can anyone in their right mind think Catholic bishops are "successors to the apostles" as they claim?
The 8th commandment (Ex 20:15) says, "Thou shalt not steal." What does our Lord Jesus think about Catholic rules like "canon law?" He said in Matthew 15:9, "But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Once again I thank God for exposing the wickedness of the Catholic Church. May He use this latest example of Roman corruption to grant more Catholics repentance from Rome, and faith ALONE in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. No "pilfering priests" needed!
"Klepto-Clerics" is what the article calls those priests who've been stealing money from their parishes. More and more priests are being exposed. The article gave a few examples:
1. One priest in Florida "gave a 'girlfriend' $134,000, made rare coin purchases for $275,000, and owned an oceanfront condominium worth $455,000." And – when investigations began, he gave each church secretary a Christmas card with $1,500 in it, hoping to buy their silence!
2. "Last year a Connecticut priest was accused of pilfering up to $1.4 million to pay for his Audi cars, luxury-hotel stays, jewelry for his boyfriend, and a Fort Lauderdale condo."
3. "Last month a Virginia priest was indicted for allegedly embezzling $600,000 from two Catholic churches – in part to help support the woman and three children he had been secretly living with."
What's the problem? A college professor specializing in church finances said, "I'm appalled at the lack of internal (financial) controls at Catholic parishes."
Even a Catholic diocesan auditor said, "Some pastors still carry an Old World attitude that what's in the collection baskets is theirs personally to do with as they wish."
However, the article asks the BEST question: "But as in the sex-abuse crisis, many are asking, 'Where are the bishops?'"
Exactly!!
Are the bishops acting to reform the financial audit process? According to the article, "Only a handful...of US dioceses are cracking down" on this financial malfeasance. And here's the kicker:
"The US Conference of Catholic Bishops insists that canon law does not allow the Vatican or the Conference to impose such reforms on dioceses."
"Where are the bishops?" The answer is – hiding behind "canon law." How can anyone in their right mind think Catholic bishops are "successors to the apostles" as they claim?
The 8th commandment (Ex 20:15) says, "Thou shalt not steal." What does our Lord Jesus think about Catholic rules like "canon law?" He said in Matthew 15:9, "But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Once again I thank God for exposing the wickedness of the Catholic Church. May He use this latest example of Roman corruption to grant more Catholics repentance from Rome, and faith ALONE in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. No "pilfering priests" needed!
posted by Robt. B. at 8:15 AM
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