In the Vineyard: March 6, 2025: Volume 25, Issue 2
News from National
Update from the Finance Working Group
A year of hard work has come to fruition this week as the Finance Working Group completes that 2024 governance and financial transparency reports. Both reports will be sent to the bishops and CFOs of all the 176 dioceses of the USCCB and then released to the public and posted on the VOTF website. The 2024 Financial Transparency Report is the eighth report since 2017, and the 2024 Governance Report is the third since 2022. Major advances in financial transparency on diocesan websites have occurred since these reviews began, including in the number of dioceses that post current audited financial reports. VOTF views posting such reports as the hallmark of financial transparency, and US dioceses that posted them went from 65 in 2017 to 114 in 2024. The overall financial transparency score in 2024 was 71% compared to 60% in 2017.
Another clear indictor of the importance US dioceses place on financial transparency is the number of high-scoring dioceses. In 2017 no dioceses received a perfect score. In 2024, ten dioceses received 100%, and another twelve dioceses scored between 95 and 100%. We continue to be gratified by the dedication of most dioceses to making sure Catholics have up-to-date information on how their contributions are being used, and we remain committed to working for transparency throughout the Church. Such transparency can enhance lay stewardship, promote generosity, and build trust in the leadership of the Catholic Church nationwide.
The Governance Review focuses on evidence found on diocesan websites that their Diocesan Finance Council (DFC) operates according to Canon law. Under the reforms of the Code of Canon Law of 1983 and 1984, each diocese was required to form a DFC which was granted duties of “consent” and “consult” on certain matters. DFC membership was to consist of individuals who were “competent” in matters of finance, law, real estate, etc. The council must therefore include lay women and men, since few members of the clergy possess the required expertise. We consider the role of the DFC within a diocese as a key indicator of the respect accorded to lay voices by diocesan leadership. Although the average diocesan score on the Financial Transparency Review is now a respectable 71%, the Governance scores have been disappointingly low, increasing from 31% in 2022 to only 35% in 2024.
With the changes instituted by Pope Francis to incorporate synodality into diocesan governance across the world, the Finance Working Group is adopting a broader view of the role of the laity in the governance and guidance of the church. We are preparing to review diocesan websites for evidence of synodal structures and practices as a way of assessing the extent to which dioceses in the US have adopted the view of Sr. Nathalie Becquart that synodality is now the vocation of the Church.
The full Financial Transparency and Governance reports will be posted on the VOTF website after they have been mailed to diocesan bishops and CFOs. They will include individual scores for each diocese. We will send out a press release to let you know that they are available on the website. If you are interested in learning your 2024 diocesan scores before then, please contact VOTF.
San Diego Women’s Advisory Committee
As part of the ongoing diocesan synodal efforts within their diocese, the San Diego Women’s Advisory Committee was formed one year ago to further explore women’s leadership within the Church today. Many of the women leaders, volunteers, in parishes, schools and in a variety of Catholic organizations took part in this initiative and shared their thoughts on this question. Please find attached the report reflecting the work conducted by this group over the last nine months. Please share with your parish ministry groups and the faithful. The report may be accessed and downloaded at www.sdcatholic.org/chancellor We are grateful to all who participated!
Pilgrims of Hope: What Is the Jubilee Holy Year 2025?
Presented by: Rev. William Clark, S.J., Associate Professor of Religious Studies. Pope Francis has designated this year as a time to renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.” What is a jubilee? How is it significant? This webinar touches on these questions and more – including ways that you can get involved. Watch the webinar here.
In the News
Pope Francis’ condition upgraded slightly, no longer ‘critical’
Pope Francis has shown “further slight improvement” in his battle with double pneumonia and earlier concerns over possible kidney failure have been resolved. According to a Vatican statement released at 6:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 26, blood tests on the 88-year-old pope also show continued improvement. Tonight’s medical bulletin marks the first time since Feb. 22 that the pontiff’s condition has not been described as “critical,” although the Vatican statement noted that his overall prognosis “remains guarded.” Read more here. National Catholic Reporter
Pope Francis’ centralization of power leaves rivals struggling to scheme
On a drizzly Monday evening in St. Peter’s Square, some of the Catholic Church’s most powerful cardinals were dashing to get into their chauffeured rides, hoping to avoid uncomfortable encounters with journalists asking the obvious: What happens if the pope dies? Read more here. Politico
Cardinal Gregory’s confronting abuse crisis marked by transparency, healing
At his introductory press conference in April 2019 on the morning when Pope Francis had named him the new archbishop of Washington, then-Archbishop Wilton Gregory pledged to work to rebuild trust and foster healing in the archdiocese, which had been shaken by the clergy abuse crisis in a personal way. Read more here. The Catholic Standard
Vatican condemns publication of ‘credibly accused’ clergy lists — again
The Dicastery for Legislative Texts issued guidance to bishops last year, which said that canon law prohibits published lists denoting clerics “credibly accused” of sexual abuse crimes. In a letter likely to spark backlash from some victims’ advocates, the dicastery said that such lists can violate fundamental legal rights when published. Read more here. The Pillar
Pope Francis’ February Prayer Intention
This month, Pope Francis shares his personal story: “When I was 17… I wasn’t thinking at all of being a priest. But one day, I went into the church…and God was there, waiting for me!”
“God still calls young people even today, sometimes in ways we can’t imagine,” he says in The Pope Video for February, produced by his Worldwide Prayer Network in collaboration with Vatican Media and The Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Watch the Pope’s video here.
Letter to the Editor
Greetings: I just read B. Murphy’s letter online. I want to say “Bravo!” Loved your letter – thanks for writing it. Remember the Episcopalians ordained women in 1974! That’s FIFTY years ago.
The Lutheran bishop of Oregon is a woman. The Episcopal bishop of Oregon is a woman. The Catholics can’t even ordain a woman priest. This is something that is way overdue, and would be so good for the Church.
A Prayer for Pope Francis
Loving God:
As Francis, our beloved pope, suffers from grave illnesses,
we come before you in prayer.
We ask you to look with mercy on your servant Francis,
who has served you devotedly and tirelessly
as a Jesuit, a priest, an archbishop, a cardinal and as pope.
Most of all, he has served you as a faithful Christian
sharing the love, mercy and compassion that your Son
showed to all he encountered in his public ministry,
especially those who were poor or in any way struggling.
During his papacy, Francis has striven to imitate your Son
by reaching out to all who were feeling abandoned, ignored or neglected,
making it his special task to care for those who were in any way sick.
As Francis himself now faces serious and complex illnesses,
help the doctors, nurses and medical team who care for him,
help him bear any pain with grace and help him to heal quickly.
Send your Holy Spirit, your own breath, into his weakened lungs
to heal him, inspire him and raise him up again
so that he may live out his vocation as the Vicar of Christ.
But if it is your will, loving God, to take him to yourself,
let his passing into new life be painless and peaceful.
We ask all this in your Holy Name.
Amen
Father James Martin
Comments?
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