Please forgive me, because I am probably missing something here. But there was an announcement today that the CMA goal for this coming year is $ 5.7 million (a half million dollars over what was collected last year). Since it is said that CMA is half DoR’s budget, then the real increase must be about $1.0 million.
With so many churches and schools closed, with such a reduction in number of priests, how can the budget be up 10%? What is it being spent on? And since buildings are being sold, that is even more income, isn’t it?
Personally, I think people should really hold back this year, and save it to give to the new bishop. The trouble is that Bishop Clark will just take it out of the churches treasuries anyway, but at least the new bishop would “get it,” that people are very dissataisfied with their prior bishop of 30 plus years.
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CMA money for Catholic schools:
2010: $301,173
2011: $146,860
CMA money for funding the campaign:
2010: $262,207
2011: $295,369
Don’t give a single penny to this farce.
Dr. K, those numbers for the schools are very revealing. Supposedly there is supposed to be more of an emphasis on vocations this year; did you see any numbers for that?
Gretchen from SOP
DrK,
where did you get those numbers from? Alarming to say the least.
I’m a little dense and don’t understand this. Could you explain?
2010 CMA allocations
2011 CMA allocations
Thanks, DrK. And that’s all the detail we get, right? My wife’s been pushing this idea that we should do a protest on Buffalo Rd. We all show up with, “Show me the money!” signs and demand fiscal transparency. As much as we complain about the local media, I bet they might be interested in such an event. Thoughts?
I’ve been saying a while that we need to have a silent protest/rosary crusade for the Bishop and this diocese. Every morning until we have a new Bishop we meet at 6am and pray a rosary kneeling on the front steps of the Cathedral. Our intention would be that the Holy Ghost would move in a miraculous way in our Bishops life. If asked we just say we are praying for our Bishop and that’s it.
Remember, it took 20 years of prayer before St. Augustine converted. Even after this bishop leaves, we must continue to pray for him until he passes from this life.
Richard: True; thats our responsibility since he is a big part of our lives. And it will be easier to pray for him when he is not in office, carrying on continually and unstoppably doing the things that harm our Diocese.
Ben, I like your “show me the money” sign/protest idea. Exposing this problem is exposing the truth, and is the first step in solving the problem.
What we need is Clara Peller coming back from heaven, standing in front of the cathedral and yelling “where’s the beef!” Silent protests are fine but (hearken back to the 60’s)there is nothing like a vocal picket line to get attention for a problem.
My church bulletin a few weeks ago stated that complaints on financial irregularities could be sent to a diocesan office. Maybe it is time to try this??
I posted the following today at the story about Jim Wallis coming to Rochester tomorrow, but I should have placed it here, me thinks; so forgive me for doubling up… here’s what I wrote about the bishop’s annual appeal.
I realize that our parishes must pay their annual “tax” as imposed by Buffalo Road and so it all comes out of our parish coffers no matter how much the parish collects during each drive for these funds, but my conscience does not allow me to participate. Sorry pastor… and I say so.
Just can’t give MY stamp of approval let alone my treasure to the false teachings, bad theology, neon-lit plastic “liturgies”, and visible physical destruction we have in the DOR. I return my card each year with a note telling Buffalo Road that my conscience does not allow me to support that which offends me, and the mission of the DOR offends my Catholic mind, heart, and soul. So, Raymond Rice, I’m with you… no appeal money from me.
I have a dear friend who for the past 22 years sends the card back marked “zero” amount and the words “I was a Cardinal Mooney parent” scrawled across the card. Took our money and ran all those years ago, even though we had raised the money to keep Mooney open.
Many in the DOR have never reconciled the thefts of parish properties and money, funds for our worship sites and education redirected to organizations and people who live in complete and public disobedience to our Holy Father and the Church. So many dissidents are living off the money collected off the backs of our parents and our grandparents, our great grandparents and our own backs, too! And one wonders what non-Catholics here think of the antics of our leadership in Rochester, the open dissent from Church teachings? It’s disgraceful. If the new bishop is courageous and orthodox, the appeal funds will balloon his first year here, as all of us once again open our wallets!!
+JMJ