Catholic sex abuse scandal could trigger donations slump, Vatican warns

[Bozita]

Source: Guardian UK

Catholic sex abuse scandal could trigger donations slump, Vatican warns
Dip in Italian taxpayers donating share of income to the church likely as row over paedophile priests takes toll on believers

John Hooper in Rome
guardian.co.uk, Monday 26 April 2010 16.54 BST
Article history


Vatican officials fear the clerical sex abuse scandal could have a devastating effect on the finances of the Italian church, undermining what until now has been a bastion of the faith.

Italian taxpayers have until the end of July to declare their income for 2009 and, under a system in force in several European countries, they can opt for a proportion of their taxes to be paid to the church.

In Italy, 0.8% of income tax revenue is divided between state-run aid organisations and recognised denominations and religions according to the preferences expressed by taxpayers on their returns.

"The media always talk of class actions, compensation for the victims of abuse by the clergy and the legal fees which, since 2001 have forced the American dioceses to sell schools, hospitals, convents and universities," the daily La Stampa quoted a Vatican source as saying. "But in fact the biggest economic damage is done by the collapse in donations."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/26/catholic-sex-abuse-scandal-vatican-donations-slump

[supernova]

1. Because that's what really matters

:eyes:

[Submariner]

7. Of course it does

Where do you think the hush money comes from to pay off and shut up the child rape victims and their parents? The collection plate of course.

You silly.

[calimary]

18. That's why the moms at our parish stopped opening their checkbooks last time around.

Nobody wanted to see their donations - that should be going to the local homeless shelter and food pantry and home for abused women - poured into settlements for lawsuits. OR, at the time, Roger Mahony's fundraising for his fancy-ass new downtown cathedral - very near some of the poorest parts of L.A. We called it the "Taj Mahony."

[saigon68]

23. A disgusting attempt to "Shake Down" the poor by criminal pedophile

Enablers

Some one in the 16th century was right about this cabal of crooks

[calimary]

33. Well, the donations did indeed dry up.

Catholic churches/schools (many times there's a two-in-one franchise) ALWAYS plead poverty. ALWAYS. Regardless how many gold candlesticks and brocade vestments they have on the rectory shelves. Regardless how many tax breaks they get as church-related establishments and the ledger of their real estate holdings. ALWAYS pleading poverty. And they pay their lay teachers abysmally. Always. Mahony got his palace alright. But certainly he didn't get it with any money from me.

[defendandprotect]

37. And, wasn't it convenient that W came along with taxpayer money for "faith-based"

religious organizations just when the Vatican needed it most?

Coincidence?

The RCC church has the majority of these organizations --

and evidently a few months ago an investigation was started into whether

the RCC has used this taxpayer money we've been supplying the for their pedophile

lawsuits!

[saigon68]

55. It is too bad

The best Chaplains in the military were the Catholic Priests in my opinion. Judged as individuals ---a couple that I knew were super human beings. Their leadership (read hierarchy ) however at times has been downright corrupt in many circumstances

[defendandprotect]

36. Good for the Moms . . .!!

[troubledamerican]

17. "First Things"

[defendandprotect]

35. It would be the beginning of the end of patriarchy and its violence . . .

and male-supremacist cultures --

Organized patriarchal religion underpins patriarchy --

and capitalism is their system, invented when Feudalism was no longer sufficient

to run the Vatican's Papal States.

It's a religion founded in patriarchal violence -- "the cross introduced with the sword" --

[Ian David]

2. So speaketh The Vatican's Office of Holy Obviousness. n/t

[Guilded Lilly]

3. Money money money money money

Money money money money money money money money money money.

THAT's what it's allllll about.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. So maybe some of the poverty stricken indigenous people in Third World

Countries will use their money to buy food and medicine instead of contributing it to the Church. I am just mortified at the thought!!

[CoffeeCat]

5. Sickening...

...Looking out for their own self interests, revolting around money no doubt--while
they fight the victims of their crimes tooth and nail.

Revolting. Really revolting.

Did they even think, for one second, how this would come across to the victims
who were sexually abused due to their sickening behavior?

[riderinthestorm]

6. Despicable greed. I hope this scandal finishes them. Probably too much to hope for but still. nt

[MadMaddie]

8. Translated

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ = bastion of the faith

Geeze!

[JanusAscending]

9. YA THINK?????

n/t

[MaineDem]

56. My thought exactly! n/t

[mitchum]

10. The only thing they love more than boycock

[Sanity Claws]

11. Donations slump?

It really is all about money.
They don't care about the faith of church members. It's the money that counts.

[defendandprotect]

38. That's why the Pope was so anxious to keep lid on any Church "scandal" . . .cuts off money!

[Politicalboi]

12. The Pope said a few years ago

Money is the root of all evil. So this is only helping him get rid of all the evil he has. Works out great. Now if only the people would stop going to the church.

[Sanity Claws]

13. Are you sure?

The love of money is the root of all evil. I forgot in what book but that's somewhere in the New Testament.
I can't imagine any pope getting that quote wrong.

[Demstud]

53. Yes, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil

http://richarddawkins.net/articles/3114

He also called it pagan... :-P

[ZeitgeistObserver]

14. Ya don't say.

My, what a shame.

[old mark]

15. Now we get to the REAL cause for concern in the church - the cashflow...

They have been a huge cash machine forever, and I hope to see some hard times hit them...they certainly deserve all the trouble they get.

m

[rpannier]

16. The abuse scandal forced the closing of hospitals???

Hadn't heard that

[defendandprotect]

39. I hadn't heard that either . . .

As far as I know, we've been turning hospitals over to them --

subsidizing them????

"The media always talk of class actions, compensation for the victims of abuse by the clergy and the legal fees which, since 2001 have forced the American dioceses to sell schools, hospitals, convents and universities," the daily La Stampa quoted a Vatican source as saying. "But in fact the biggest economic damage is done by the collapse in donations."

Obviously, more to learn on that subject --

And for decades they have had to close schools -- nuns used to run them -- and members moved to

suburbs. Convents, of course. They had some unbelievably beautiful real estate and still do --

One place I visited was up on the Hudson -- a convent and college, I think?

Breatakingly beautiful!


All of their real estate and stock portfolios are tax-exempt, as well!

[rpannier]

49. The convents is also kind of weird

I don't think diocese own convents.
They are property of the religious order and only become Church property if the Order ceases to exist

[Stumbler]

19. Well, it happened to ACORN

One can only hope this will result in the complete collapse of the Catholic Church. (Tho, I'm not about to hold my breath)

[defendandprotect]

41. I'm also hopeful on that -- but quite a difference in size . . . Vatican is a sovereign

state with some voting rights in UN!

Although it is an all-male state!

They have long had a network of presence all over Europe -- and now Africa/China -- ???

And, they are also quite different from ACORN because this involves an entire concept --

patriarchy -- "Manifest Destiny" and "Man's Dominion Over Nature" --

Organized patriarchal religion is the underpinning for patriarchy and male-supremacy!

[dogfacedboy]

20. I wouldn't give a dime to those Papist scumbags.

The Vatican needs to be bulldozed after the removal of anything of value.

[izquierdista]

50. Bite your tongue!

You can't bulldoze centuries old art! Besides, it would make just a FABULOUS gay disco -- mirror balls and colored lights on those naked angel frescoes.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

21. They should sell the Berninis and other artworks.

And feed poor people with it.

I wonder how many people the cost of "The Ecstacy of St. Theresa" would feed??

A whole bunch, I would think.

(Former art major here.)

[truthisfreedom]

22. I wonder where some of that money is going now.

What are people doing with it if they don't give it to the church?

[saigon68]

24. They giive it to the Salvation Army

I do

[dickthegrouch]

31. Please don't: Sally army is as homophobic as KKKatholic church

[saigon68]

32. Did not know that

They are the only ones around here who help the homeless

[bobthedrummer]

40. Absolutely true in GB, and elsewhere-not just homeless, also the youth programs and other community

needs that the CORPORATIONS (Smithfield, Packerland, Morning Glory, Georgia Pacific, etc.) as well as most organized religions around here ignore.

[Toasterlad]

45. They Also Refuse To Hire Gay People, And Agressively Lobby Congress To Keep Gays Down.

They are indeed as homophobic as the catholic church.

There are secular programs EVERYWHERE that are much more worthy of your money than the salvation army.

[bobthedrummer]

47. Are you posting from Green Bay like Saigon 68& I? It doesn't matter if you aren't-your prejudice

apparently has blinded you to the many positive, concrete community needs met by Salvation Army outside of its own prejudicial policies on employment.

They do much real good here in Green Bay, Wisconsin (where I and Saigon 68 are posting from) and elsewhere, I consider SA worthy of donations and volunteer work.

[Toasterlad]

54. Your Support Of Bigotry Is Noted.

Clearly, the good work the salvation army allegedly does in your area is far more important to you than the rights of gay Americans. Nice touch calling ME prejudiced, though. One problem with that; I had a favorable opinion of the salvation army until I found out about their blatant bigotry. So I didn't "pre judge" anything.

BTW, a simple Google search of "community services Green Bay" revealed dozens of secular programs to help the needy in the Green Bay area, so I guess your claim that the bigots at the salvation army are the only game in town are pretty much full of shit.

Sad that an out-of-towner has to school you on the options available in your own area.

[bobthedrummer]

57. The major difference between you and I is your single-issue activism which has blinded you n/t

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Toasterlad]

62. The Major Difference Between You and I Is You Are Willing To Excuse Bigotry, And I Am Not.

[JerseygirlCT]

59. Well, there are other charities doing the same work - without

discriminating. They may be local, or they may not have the giant name recognition of the SA.

I know I cannot contribute to them so long as they continue on the path of hatred and bigotry.

[VaYallaDawg]

46. Suggestion: think about Meals on Wheels / Food Bank.

[JerseygirlCT]

60. Yup. Most communities

have food banks - either regional ones or local. They need lots of support.

[brooklynite]

25. Maybe the Pope could announce tha God will "call him home" if the Church doesn't raise enough money?

It worked for Oral Roberts.

[Stuart G]

26. There are two ways to change this church....donations is one of them..The

other is attendance which relates to donations.
If fifty percent of the followers stop following, as a protest..the pope and his cronies will be gone fast.
That 50 percent drop in attendance could result in a fifty percent drop in donations..

Good..And Catholics are the only ones that can change this. As a non Catholic, I can do nothing..Let the world react to this by giving much less money..
That is all these assholes know..

[defendandprotect]

42. Giving money -- and giving respect to male-supremacist religion . . .!!

[lunatica]

27. Well I for one am happy they're feeling it where it hurts them most

That's where most people have a choice. Of course watch for the church to ratchet up the 'You'll go to hell if you don't give money to the church because how else can it save those poor people in the world' rhetoric.

First the fear, and then the guilt: 'Why could you ignore God's plea for your money because of a few bad apples. You should pray for them, not punish all those poor people the church helps.'

[Flipper999]

28. Oh no. How horrible for them.

:nopity:

[Stuart G]

30. Welcome to DU..Flipper999...nt

[Pisces]

29. I hope people decide to stop giving any money until the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, and anyone

else who took confession or harbored a pedophile resigns. Until the Church thoroughly cleanses itself of their cancer they will never recover.

[Karenina]

34. Red Pradas are EXPENSIVE!

;-)

[defendandprotect]

43. While I hope this is true . . .

at least two nearby Catholic churches in Central NJ are expanding --

One seems to be involved in at least an extensive renovation --

the other in a second large building program on its available land.

[and-justice-for-all]

44. Good, I hope the floor falls out from under'em..nt

[saigon68]

51. Child anal sodomites

[and-justice-for-all]

61. ....

:puke:

[fascisthunter]

48. lol... well it good to see they are concerned

sad it isn't concern for the fact that their church is sheltering and pedophiles. But money... ho now!!!

[crim son]

52. My ex MIL has always intended to leave her estate to the Church

and I doubt very much whether any scandal would make her change her mind. Years ago when the rumblings about the abuse began to be too loud to ignore she told me that the abuse was the fault of the laity, because they hadn't prayed hard enough for the priests. I would like to think people like her are in the minority but I dunno.

[City Lights]

63. Tsk tsk.

:nopity:

[DebbieCDC]

64. Too bad

Pope Rat might have to sell a couple of those Carravaggio's to pay for his Prada robes

Or maybe they could go back to selling indulgences.