ARCC spot LIGHT - Leadership in Reform

ARCC spot LIGHT (analysis of Church issues offered by the ARCC Publications Committee, R. Schutzius, ed.)

 

Catholics Want Law to Govern Church Properties
July 31, 2009

"Amidst increasing clamor among the Catholic laity over the lack of transparency in the management of assets owned by the church, intellectuals from across the country have now begun demanding a law to govern properties owned and managed by the church."  *

Might we all respond, "It is about time"?  ARCC has advocated for accountability and transparency from its beginning 25+ years ago.  Should we not rejoice at this initiative and join the fray?  Should we not muster all the support we can to contact our elected leaders in Washington and urge them to support such legislation?  A recent attempt to do this in the State of Connecticut was quickly squashed by the heavy hand of the hierarchy who called out bus-loads of faithful followers to invade the capital in protest.  Can we stop the confiscation of closed parish properties and ask for openness in how our, and our ancestor's, contributions are being used by the bishops?  Dare we question the dogma of the Catholic Church institution which proscribes in great detail its structure and operation?

 

Sadly, no!  Don't get your hopes up.  This wholesome, brave, and much needed movement is not occurring here.   The spirit of reform and renewal has been taken up by others.  It is happening in India. 

 

More power to our Catholic brothers and sisters in India.  May the Spirit be with you to lead the way!

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Indo-Asian News Service

Panaji, July 29, 2009

 

*  Amidst increasing clamor among the Catholic laity over the lack of transparency in the management of assets owned by the church, intellectuals from across the country have now begun demanding a law to govern properties owned and managed by the church.

Speaking during a lecture on "Should there be a law to protect the properties of the Church", organized here Tuesday by the All India Catholic Union (AICU), former Supreme Court justice K.T. Thomas said that the Roman Catholic church's unwillingness to enact a law for administering their properties "was on account of a fear that a provision for judicial scrutiny is likely to expose the expenses and the magnitude of wealth of the denomination".

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-India&id=b6e72b4b-5d5f-4e41-af67-a9b80e73fcbd&Headline=Catholics+want+law+to+govern+church+properties

Remembering the Women Sunday Readings  

8/2, 18th Sunday, 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:15 and Ruth 2:8-13

8/9, 19th Sunday, 2 Samuel 12:15b-19, 24-25 and Ruth 14-18 

 

ARCC is a co-sponsor of THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL (ACC)   Please consider joining this effort to bring about much-needed organizational restructuring in the Church

 

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Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).