Leases of Church Property Raise Questions

 

Local pastors and lay advisors have raised questions about centralized leasing policies for parish property in the Archdiocese of Washington. Critics say policies restrict both the religious use and financial benefit of parish properties, even while some parishes struggle to make ends meet. 

The archdiocese operates a centralized process of managing leased parish property, through which Catholic Charities of Washington leases parish properties for use as program locations, with rental rates far below market rate — charging in some cases only a nominal fee of dollars annually. The process reportedly restricts pastors from renegotiating lease rates, and in some cases prohibits pastors from offering any pastoral or religious services at programs conducted on parish property.

Sources said the same centralized leasing approach rents several unused Catholic school buildings to public charter schools. At least eight former Catholic school buildings have been used as DC charter schools. Pastors say that while parishes receive almost half of rental income for school rental arrangements, the rest of the funds are retained by the Washington archdiocese, even while parishes are responsible for upkeep on the buildings.

To read the complete story, please to to The Pillar.

 

Cardinal Gregory Needs Your Financial Support and I find it baffling and reprehensible...

 

Well, as we come to the end of the year, Cardinal Gregory has issues a plea for financial help.   

So, I say to +Gregory:

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you are once again asking for our support, when you state that you are willing to dialogue with Biden, but refused to do so with President Trump.  

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you and your team lied to everyone about knowing that President Trump would visit the JPII Shrine and laid the blame on the Knights of Columbus.  

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you are willing to overlook Biden's very public and well known stance on abortion, but refuse to deny him Communion.

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you are willing to look the other way, for those who are in a same-sex marriage, employed by the Archdiocese. 

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you remained silent for many months, while our churches were shut down.  The only time you spoke up was when it became apparent, that you would not have large Christmas attendance, which is the largest donation day in the diocese. 

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you did not quarantine yourself when you returned to the US from Rome, but had no problem quarantining yourself when you went to Rome.  

I find it baffling & reprehensible that you have the nerve to come and ask for support, after all of these things -- and these are the things which we know of.  

 So, I say to you and to everyone else: If you choose to donate, ensure that it stays in your parish.  When you donate, specifically state that it must stay in the parish or designate it for a specific use.  For example, pay for the sacramental wine, pay for the hosts, pay the electric bill.   In this manner, the Archdiocese cannot get their hands on it.   

The Financial Situation of the Archdiocese

If you read the Catholic Standard for the last two weeks, it featured major stories on the financial state of the Archdiocese. In both articles (and I do not have the articles in front of me, so this is from memory), the financial situation is not good. Over $2,000,000 in cuts will need to be made.

This past weekend, the homilies (in at least two parishes that I know of), focused on giving not of simply from your excess but as much as you can -- even when it hurts a bit.

Based on the past communication/marketing campaigns of the Archdiocese, this probably is a lead-in not only the various cuts that will come (including the closing of schools, as I see it) but an even bigger push to increase giving.

Did your parish priest talk about finances this weekend -- either directly or indirectly?

What do you think about this?

Have you thought about the amount you will give next year? Will it increase, decrease or stay the same?