Voice of the Faithful Focus – A brief update highlighting both a problem in our church and some progress being made as we work together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

Progress

Beginning the conversation about better management

From the beginning VOTF has advocated for strong leadership and accountability at all levels of Church management. It is encouraging to see lay leaders and bishops carrying the discussion forward, as was reported recently at the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management in Philadelphia.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803458.htm

Problem

Unfortunately when good management and accountability are missing, the money also tends to go missing.

Here are a few examples we have gathered from recent news articles.  

Fraud charges against Lourdes rector. $700,000 missing.
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=59467

Florida prosecutors refile charges against priests on thefts of $8.6 million
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/
epaper/2008/07/01/0701priests.html

Nun sentenced to jail for stealing $800,000 http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10379041

Priest gets 3 years for fake lottery scheme
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_3ascolese.6491115jul04,0,7307877.story

Virginia priest in court on theft charges. May be as much as $1 million
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/
news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-15-0082.html

School staffer steals $154,000
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/224063 

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=59467 

Woman charged with stealing $184,000 from Catholic Charities
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20080709/NEWS/807090365

NJ bookkeeper indicted ($30,000)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/morris_churchs_bookkeeper_indi.html

Voice of the Faithful has tracked news stories of this sort since January 2006. So far we have detailed 74 cases totaling over $29.8 million. A study by Villanova University revealed that 85% of dioceses surveyed experienced at least one case of embezzlement in the previous five years.

Isn’t it time for a solution? 

Shouldn’t every diocese and parish in the nation have independent, representative Finance Councils in place and operating? Such councils, given the proper authority, would oversee the implementation of financial reporting and controls as well as provide internal audits and independent oversight. Independent Councils would not eliminate the occasional fraud. But they would lessen the opportunity for theft and help rekindle trust in our Church. It is within our power as Catholics to make this happen.