Court victory for Loretto Sisters in dispute with California bishop [CC]
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The_Old_Medic
Guest
I sincerely hope that this decision is overturned. Funds for education should be used for education, not for retirement costs.
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ChemicalBean
Guest
We don’t know all the real ins-and-outs to declare the right side of social justice here. I agree that funds for education should be used for education. According to the ruling, they were. We only saw a 6-year lifetime on some of those construction funds.
Regarding the retirement question, it is quite possible that the sisters do have every “right” to that money. Perhaps they deferred maintenance on their housing properties or dipped into retirement/health funds to keep that school running as a defining ministry of their order. What is also more likely is that they did not “pay” themselves and plan for every sister teaching in that school over the years to retire because it was expected that the nuns would work “for free” and that the aging nuns (back then, life expectancy was shorter) would be cared for by newer active sisters and the income of their labor. In the present day, they probably do not have the scores of newer sisters working to care for the aging ones, and their school with declining enrollment kept those resources from being used in other ministries with a greater need, including the need to minister to their own elderly.
Regarding the retirement question, it is quite possible that the sisters do have every “right” to that money. Perhaps they deferred maintenance on their housing properties or dipped into retirement/health funds to keep that school running as a defining ministry of their order. What is also more likely is that they did not “pay” themselves and plan for every sister teaching in that school over the years to retire because it was expected that the nuns would work “for free” and that the aging nuns (back then, life expectancy was shorter) would be cared for by newer active sisters and the income of their labor. In the present day, they probably do not have the scores of newer sisters working to care for the aging ones, and their school with declining enrollment kept those resources from being used in other ministries with a greater need, including the need to minister to their own elderly.
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PJM
Guest
The sisters may have won a civil suit; but did so in opposition to God’s law.
The Church represented by our Bishops are responsible for all of the property within there diocease, blessed by the Church and used for any church purpose, and If I recall actaully hold title to them?
This seems on the surface to be another set of nuns not doing God’s will.
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qui_est_ce
Guest
This does not surprise me. The Loretto sisters protested when JPII came to St Louis because they want women to be ordained.The sisters may have won a civil suit; but did so in opposition to God’s law.
The Church represented by our Bishops are responsible for all of the property within there diocease, blessed by the Church and used for any church purpose, and If I recall actaully hold title to them?
This seems on the surface to be another set of nuns not doing God’s will.
At my daughter’s Loretto high school, the Theology teacher had a poster of the Last Supper up, with Mary Magdelene in the place of St. John.
They need the money for retirement funds, because like all far liberal Catholic orders new postulants are nonexistant. The average age of a nun in these orders is past the retirement age. Compare to more orthodox orders, like the Apostles of the Sacred Heart who have a steady stream of postulants.
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invocation
Guest
The bishops do not own nor do they control property owned by religious orders. Religious orders have their own governing structures, their own property, and are largely independent of local bishops.The sisters may have won a civil suit; but did so in opposition to God’s law.
The Church represented by our Bishops are responsible for all of the property within there diocease, blessed by the Church and used for any church purpose, and If I recall actaully hold title to them?
This seems on the surface to be another set of nuns not doing God’s will.
The moral of the story is that if the Bishop thought there was some minimal time the sisters needed to operate the school in order to justify the donation, that should have been included in the legal documents that gave the property to the sisters. Beyond that it is difficult, from this article, to judge what is going on here; though, it is not as if it is unheard of for bishops to sell off property to raise money when they want.
Unless the bishop thinks he was purposely misled by the sisters…?
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
If it’s OK for the bishop to take back donations that were made, is it also OK for parishioners to take back donations? I never donated to the Church with the idea that my money would be used to pay lawyers and sexual abuse claims. Can I have my donations back since they weren’t used the way I intended?
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FAB
Guest
There is a differnce, When you give to the church in a general collection, it is understood to be used for the church’s need , what ever those may be.
In the case of the sisters, Canon Law specifies that money donated for a specific use, must be used for that purpose or the money is to be returned. People donated with the express interest of renevating and keeping a school open. They have a right to demand the money to be refunded unless the sisters recieved specific permission to use it for other purposes. The civil courts should have stayed out of the issue. What is disturbing in this mannor is the court has interfered in what is Church Law.
In reference to the sexual abuse claims, it is indeed tragic that any of that has happened and that a very very small minority of priest, somewere between 1and 3% if remember the stats brought such disgrace to the body of Christ. With that said, as part of that body we had to work to make things whole again, spending the money in todays world is part of that process. Although not widely reported, I am certain that there are many false claims as well, the Church does have to defend herself.
Peace,
FAB
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FAB
Guest
The bishop and donors were apparently left with no other choice since the sisters were refusing to abide with Church law, that’s why it disturbing that it went to civil courts.
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wisdomseeker
Guest
and since when a Catholic is allowed to take the Church to court to get what they want? how much more is comimg for the Church? i have never heard such a thing. the authority of the CC is really in jeopardy. what else can these people get the court to rule in their favor against the Church? since when the courts have authority to decide Church affairs?
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