Stricter Regulations Set on Money Donated to Vatican for Canonization of Saints

Columbus Dispatch
March 10, 2016

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2016/03/10/0310-canonization-finance-reforms.html

Pope Francis is requiring external vigilance over the Vatican bank accounts created for the process of making saints.

Pope Francis has imposed new financial accountability regulations on the process for making saints after gross abuses were revealed.

Francis issued norms Thursday that require external vigilance over the Vatican bank accounts created for canonization causes as well as regular budgeting and accounting to make sure donations are being used correctly.

The reforms come after two blockbuster books based on confidential Vatican documents revealed that the Vatican’s saint-making machine brought in hundreds of thousands of euros for each saintly candidate but had virtually no financial oversight.

The books estimated the average cost for each beatification cause at half a million euros, or more than $550,000.