Newark’s Archbishop John J. Myers is facing
criticism for pricey plans to expand his retirement home.
Myers is planning to add a $500,000 addition to a Franklin
Township house that the archdiocese purchased in 2002, the Star-Ledger reports.
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The New Jersey leader has been using the
4,500-square-foot home as a weekend residence. It already has
five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a three-car garage, an
outdoor pool and 8.2 wooded acres.
But the 72-year-old archbishop, who insists on being
called “Your Grace,” has big changes in mind for
his home.
Workers have laid a wooden framework for the 3,000-square-foot
addition. The archbishop's fancy new digs will reportedly
have an indoor exercise pool, a hot tub, three fireplaces, a
library and an elevator, according to records obtained by the
Star-Ledger.
And then he has to furnish the place — which means
the $500,000 bill has a good chance of rising.
Myers is due to retire in two years, at which point he
plans to move into his mansion of glory, full time.
At the moment, the Newark archdiocese is asking
Catholics to donate to a fundraising drive called the
“archbishop’s annual appeal.” The
parishioners’ hard-earned money is slated to go towards
the church’s many charities. One of the church’s
schools, the Mater Dei Academy, had to shut down two years
ago, due to a lack of funds.
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But Myers is swimming in luxury.
The 14-by-7 indoor pool has jets that allow users to
swim in place.
Archdiocese spokesman, Jim Goodness, tried to explain:
“The press says it’s a hot tub; it’s a
whirlpool,” Goodness told The New York Times.
“He’s getting older — there are therapeutic
issues.”
The spokesman said that the expansion will be funded by
the sale of some of the archdiocese’s properties.
“It is not going to cost our parishioners
anything,” Goodness said. “Any extra monies will
go to the diocese.”
Myers’ lavish lifestyle stands in direct
contrast to the principles set forth by Pope Francis. The
pontiff has criticized bishops for living “like
princes.” He shunned a Mercedes for a Ford and has
chosen to live in a guest apartment instead of the papal
palace.
In October, Francis suspended a German bishop,
nicknamed the “Bishop of Bling,” for spending
$42 million on home renovations.
Without the new wing, Myers home is currently assessed
at $776,700.
Along with his deep pockets, Myers has also been
accused of sheltering priests involved in sexual abuse
scandals.
A long-time Newark parishioner, Joan Rubino, called
Myers a “hypocrite.”
"To ask people to make sacrifices and then to live in a
sumptuous residence, it makes me very annoyed," the 77-year-old Rubino told the
Star-Ledger. "Isn’t there a better use for this
money? In plain English, I feel like people are getting
screwed."
