Rome - Still In Control, But Not Financially Liable
The Spokane, Washington Roman Catholic Diocese has, under court bankruptcy proceedings, re-organized the incorporation of its individual churches so that in the future, the diocese won’t have to pay for pervert priests who molest children. This was reported in the May 3 issue of the diocesan newspaper, the Inland Register, in an article titled, “Who Owns Parish Property? The Parish Does.”
Under the new incorporation, each parish will be run by a Board of Directors – the parish priest, the chair of the parish finance council, and another priest from the diocesan “Priests Council.”
Comment – This is so phony! The bishop will select the parish priest and other priest from the “Priests Council,” while the “chair of the parish finance council” is usually a toady of the parish priest.
The article piously states:
“It is important to note that the parish owns its own property. The bishop does not own it, the pastor does not own it, and the parishioners do not own it. The parish owns the property.”
Comment – So then, who or what is the “parish?” Take out the local priest and the people, and who is left? I don’t get!
I’m not a lawyer, but it looks like Catholic lawyers have been able to create an empty legal entity called a “parish.” If in the future a “parish” is being sued, the bishop, priests, and “laity” will all be able to say, “Don’t bother me, I don’t own it.” It’s sad that the federal bankruptcy judge is letting Rome get away with this!
In sum, the bishop and priests will still run the churches, but now will not have the financial obligations they used to. If the Spokane diocese was honest (which it is not), the article title should have read:
“Who Controls the Parish? The Bishop Still Does – But He Won’t Get Stuck Paying the Bills!”
Please continue to pray, no matter how many legal shenanigans Rome pulls, that Christ bring more Catholics out of Rome and into eternal life that is found by faith in Christ ALONE.
Under the new incorporation, each parish will be run by a Board of Directors – the parish priest, the chair of the parish finance council, and another priest from the diocesan “Priests Council.”
Comment – This is so phony! The bishop will select the parish priest and other priest from the “Priests Council,” while the “chair of the parish finance council” is usually a toady of the parish priest.
The article piously states:
“It is important to note that the parish owns its own property. The bishop does not own it, the pastor does not own it, and the parishioners do not own it. The parish owns the property.”
Comment – So then, who or what is the “parish?” Take out the local priest and the people, and who is left? I don’t get!
I’m not a lawyer, but it looks like Catholic lawyers have been able to create an empty legal entity called a “parish.” If in the future a “parish” is being sued, the bishop, priests, and “laity” will all be able to say, “Don’t bother me, I don’t own it.” It’s sad that the federal bankruptcy judge is letting Rome get away with this!
In sum, the bishop and priests will still run the churches, but now will not have the financial obligations they used to. If the Spokane diocese was honest (which it is not), the article title should have read:
“Who Controls the Parish? The Bishop Still Does – But He Won’t Get Stuck Paying the Bills!”
Please continue to pray, no matter how many legal shenanigans Rome pulls, that Christ bring more Catholics out of Rome and into eternal life that is found by faith in Christ ALONE.
posted by Robt. B. at 9:07 AM
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