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

Number of lay theologians continues to grow

The growing influence of the laity in the Church is illustrated in this story about the Catholic Theological Association of America (CTSA). Some 60 years ago, when CTSA was founded, nearly all its members were priests teaching in seminaries. Now the membership is increasingly lay, many of them women, teaching other laity in colleges and universities.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20080618.htm#head16

Problem

It’s 10:00 PM. Do you know where your money is?

Stories of embezzlement and other financial improprieties in Catholic organizations continue. In just the last few weeks we have seen the following news items– some are follow-ups to previously reported transgressions but others are entirely new.

Connecticut priest goes to jail for stealing $1.3 million
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_9679822

NY woman sentenced for stealing $400,000 from church
http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/368446.html

Nebraska priest confesses to stealing $85,000
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/19762779.html

New Jersey woman steals $2,500 from school
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20080613/NEWS/80613031

Cleveland chancellor case goes to jury ($784,000) http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/
cuyahoga/1214037008320080.xml&coll=2  

Possible embezzlement at Minnesota church
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/
19873164.html?location_refer=Outdoors  

Voice of the Faithful has tracked news stories of this sort since January 2006. So far we have detailed 72 cases totaling over $29.5 million. That’s more than $32,000 per day.

A study by Villanova University revealed that 85% of dioceses surveyed experienced at least one case of embezzlement in the past five years.

Isn’t it time for a solution? 

Shouldn't every diocese and parish in the nation have independent, lay Finance Councils? Such councils, given the proper authority, would oversee the establishment and implementation of financial reporting and controls, as well as provide internal audits and independent oversight. Independent Councils will not eliminate the occasional fraud. But they will lessen the opportunity for theft and help rekindle trust in our Church.

It is time for laity to step forward and share responsibility for financial operations.

It is within our power as Catholics to make this happen.