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	Our View: Opening Books Enhances Trust Standard-Times [Fall River MA] January 18, 2007 http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-07/01-18-07/01opinion.htm Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley set a wise example for Catholic bishops by releasing the results of a financial audit of the Boston archdiocese's financial operations. After the clergy sex abuse scandal that shook the archdiocese, along with faithful priests and believers, Cardinal Sean was quick to recognize that the leadership of the church had to take every opportunity to restore its credibility with its believers by reaching out, opening up the inner workings of the archdiocese and making top clergy accountable to Catholics. The Diocese of Fall River would be wise to follow the cardinal's example and similarly make known the results of its own financial audit. This in no way is to suggest that any financial improprieties are occurring, although a recent survey found that nationally, about 85 percent of dioceses that responded to the survey had reported at least one instance of money having been embezzled. On the contrary, the diocese has taken prudent steps to monitor its financial operations through the Diocesan Financial Council. Further, the diocese does not ask its member parishes to hand over any parish donations for the administration of the diocese. Its money comes through the annual Bishop's Appeal, which pays for the diocese's operations and Catholic Charities. That said, the diocese has not been immune from financial trouble. It reached a settlement with a priest who must repay $1.45 million and still faces criminal charges for allegedly embezzling from two parishes. Further, the diocese has spent about $16 million to settle sexual abuse claims mostly stemming from the highly publicized cases involving the Rev. James Porter. At this point, Bishop George W. Coleman has not released financial audits of the diocesan books, but we hope he will reconsider and do so. It will go a long way toward reassuring not only the Voice of the Faithful, but Catholics in general, that their financial contributions are being spent well. And it will go a long way toward underscoring the credibility of the diocese at a time when some Catholics still remain skeptical about the church leadership's vital credibility.
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