Church to Ask Pope to Probe Archdiocese $

By Laurel J. Sweet
Boston Herald
August 4, 2014

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/08/church_to_ask_pope_to_probe_archdiocese

Iron-willed parishioners of a long-shuttered Scituate church, advised by Cardinal Sean O’Malley it’s time to turn out the lights and move on, voted unanimously yesterday to ask Pope Francis to investigate the Archdiocese of Boston’s finances — even as they gird for the possibility of being forcibly evicted.

“I’m going to lay on the floor. They’re going to have to carry me out,” 88-year-old Evelyn Morton threatened over homemade coffee cake in the vestry of St. Frances X. Cabrini Church on the 3,568th day of the faithful’s vigil.

Calling the Archdiocese a “tyranny,” occupation organizer Jon Rogers told the Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini, “We all woke up in America this morning. That not only gives us the right to voice our opinion, but to direct our future.”

Canon law consultant Peter Borre of the Council of Parishes, who’s been helping diehard parishioners of deconsecrated Mount Carmel Church in East Boston stave off a wrecking ball, told several dozen supporters — some openly weeping — “the whole rationale for turning this church into condos” is contradicted by the Archdiocese of Boston’s latest public annual report, which he said shows the nonprofit reaped $41 million in surplus revenues in Fiscal Year 2013.

“How do you reconcile the sworn poor-mouthing the Archdiocese uses to justify the selling off of this church with its own numbers?” Borre asked.

Archdiocese spokesman Terrence Donilon responded, “Mr. Borre is misleading people. The $41 million is mostly money raised by parishes for the parishes. So even though it shows up on the combined statements of the archdiocese’s books, it can not be tapped by the archdiocese for any purpose it chooses (i.e., their suggestion to reopen St. Frances). These are the resources of the parishes.

“While our overall financial situation has stabilized, I can assure the faithful we are not operating with a surplus and there are many major challenges remaining,” Donilon said. “That said, we continue to seek a peaceful and prayerful resolution to the vigil.”

Citing financial hardship, the archdiocese closed the church in October 2004. Last week, O’Malley sent a letter reminding parishioners their appeal to the Vatican’s Supreme Court failed, and while “the Archdiocese has shown its respect and patience for those who have occupied this site over the last nine years ... it is the expectation of the Holy Father that all parties accept this final decision in good faith and in serenity.” Donilon did not say whether or when the archdiocese will move to evict the protesters.