Atlanta Archbishop Apologizes for Posh Residence.

[elleng]

Source: nyt/ap

The Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta seems to have gotten the pope's message about living modestly.

Just days ago, Pope Francis removed a German bishop for his lavish spending on a new residence. Now, Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory has bowed to criticism from local Catholics and apologized for buying a $2.2 million mansion for his own use.

Gregory offered to sell the spacious home, if that is what local church representatives want. The archbishop says he failed to consider the project's cost on his own "integrity and pastoral credibility."

Bishops can expect more scrutiny on their lifestyles. Church leaders realized the coming challenge as soon as Francis took a Vatican bus, instead of the traditional papal sedan and security detail, back to his hotel after he was elected.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/04/01/us/ap-us-rel-archbishops-mansion.html?hp

[MicaelS]

1. Just keeps getting better and better.

Hard to believe the RCC is actually starting to walk the walk.

[happyslug]

8. When the present Bishop of Pittsburgh took over, he sold the mansion that his predecessors had lived

Now, I can understand why Bishops like large mansions, you be surprised how much work is done in such homes. For example look at the White House. It is both a place to live and a place to work. A large home/Mansion provides the space needed to such working groups AND provide near by sleeping quarters for people who came from far away to attend meetings with the Bishop (For example when the Pope visits a Bishop, he tends to stay in the bishop's home, as would other visiting bishops and Church Officials).

Now, I used the term Bishop and Church, but the same logic is the bases for the White House and the Various Governor's mansions. It was the rationale for various large estates over the years by men (and women) of means (In fact the mansion was built by a Robber Baron of the Glided age and then donated to the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1949):

Here is the article on the sale of the Mansion:

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/homes-garden/homes/2009/03/14/Bishops-mansion-was-home-for-precious-antiques-paintings/stories/200903140181

Please note, first it was donated to the Bishop, but since it was a private home, the Catholic Church paid taxes on it (Except for the chapel built into the home).

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/homes-garden/homes/2009/03/11/Bishop-s-mansion-for-sale/stories/200903110246

[toby jo]

11. Maybe you should drop the pope a line and bring him up to snuff...

[closeupready]

2. What a corrupt institution.

[marew]

17. Yup! n/t

[Archae]

3. Translation: "I got caught."

What the (bleep) does this guy need with a huge mansion anyway?

He's not married, has no kids.

Maybe the extra rooms are for his "Rentboys?"

[hamsterjill]

13. Yep. Exactly.

Love the line "if that is what local church representatives want".

Is he hoping that the local church representatives beg him to stay in the place?

[broadcaster75201]

4. The Catholic crime organiztion still hasn't sold all it has and given to the poor?

I'm SO shocked. /s

[bobthedrummer]

5. K&R + a link to Bishop Accountability.org

Bishop Accountability
http://bishopaccountability.org

[tk2kewl]

6. an oath of poverty...

[TommyCelt]

10. Smack-down caption...

...but unfortunately not accurate. Contrary to popular opinion, diocesan priests (which Gregory was originally ordained as) do not take a vow of poverty. Religious brothers (like Franciscans and Pope Francis' Jesuits) who go on to be ordained priests and bishops do, however.

[Skidmore]

12. Looks like a funeral home.

[sarcasmo]

20. That would make a great orphanage.

[freshwest]

21. How very Republican of him. I'm sure he thinks he's a victim, too. Good on Francis for calling these

guys out, I've never heard of such a thing before. And his dumb statement, that he'll sell it IF they diocese wants him to do so...

I'll bet they do, and that could be made into a nice home for the poor, sick or elderly. And to hell with what his highbrow neighbors think about it.

Just sayin.

[DeSwiss]

7. Another nonpology bullshit artist.

''Gregory offered to sell the spacious home, if that is what local church representatives want.''

Translation: ''If you jealous lot want me to get rid of it because of your envy, then I suppose I can live like you peons -- if I have to.''

- K&R

[progressoid]

14. Yeah, what a wonderful spiritual leader he is.

[albino65]

9. In other words

He would rather apologize than ask permission. These losers should be made to live in the lowest of slums of the world for the rest of their lives administering to the poor. Maybe that would help their "integrity and pastoral credibility."

[rickyhall]

15. How many loaves & fishes would that buy?

[marew]

16. Same stuff with a NJ bishop recently...

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/new-jersey/65048-new-jerseys-bishop-of-bling

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kathyschiffer/2014/02/some-key-facts-everyone-should-know-about-the-archbishop-s-residence-in-newark/

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20140104/NEWS01/301040012/Bishop-s-new-mansion-draws-criticism-from-flock

I know there are some wonderful individuals such as the "nuns on a bus" in the RC church but stuff like this is what caused me to leave that church 35 years ago. I attended a church that was in a working class neighborhood but when a bishop got out of his fancy-schmancy vechicle and stepped in a puddle at our church and went ballistic, I'd had all I could take! That was my tipping point!

[AngryOldDem]

18. He ought to be ashamed of himself.

How many people in Atlanta could that $2.2 million feed and house? Even though diocesan priests (which I assume Gregory is) do not take a vow of poverty, Church teaching and any sense of morality and decency should have kicked in here.

And I call bullshit on his "failure to consider the project's cost on his own 'integrity and pastoral credibility'." He wanted a mansion. So he bought one. Simple as that.

It took over 50 years, but I believe Francis is the "fresh air" that the opened window of Vatican II promised, in every way.

[sarcasmo]

19. What is the weekly take on the the collection plate in Atlanta?

A 2. 2 million dollar Mansion for Archbishop Douche. The time has long passed to revoke the tax exemption of these charlatans.