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
Since its inception Voice of the Faithful has pointed to the need for good financial management in all facets of church life. Nowhere is the temptation for money to go missing any more likely than in the collection process where vast amounts of cash are processed. Here is a not so unique way of ensuring that the money won’t go astray between the collection basket and the bank.
Churches turning to automated donations
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_209213402.html?
keyword=secondarystory
Problem
The news reports continue to document cases of financial mismanagement and theft at Catholic institutions all over the country. Here are some headlines we have collected in just the past week.
Priest gambles away $112,000 in church funds
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-roselle-pastor-removed-both-31jul31,0,1040864.story
Bookkeeper steals $114,000 from Wisconsin parish
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=777344
Hawaiian woman on trial for embezzling $85,000
http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/08/06/news/news04.txt
Long Island woman steals $15,000 from Catholic preschool
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-liskul0802,0,6852583.story
Voice of the Faithful has tracked news stories of this sort since January 2006. So far we have detailed 79 cases totaling over $30.7 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.
