Newark archbishop's future retirement home undergoing a $500K addition

[M-Dent]

nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/newark_archbishops_future_retirement_home_valued_at_800g_undergoing_a_500g_addition.html

The 4,500-square-foot home sits on 8.2 wooded acres in the hills of Hunterdon County. With five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a three-car garage and a big outdoor pool, it’s valued at nearly $800,000, records show.

The new wing, now just a wood frame, will include an indoor exercise pool, a hot tub, three fireplaces, a library and an elevator, among other amenities, according to blueprints and permits filed with the Franklin Township building department.

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Myers’ spokesman, Jim Goodness, said the addition will have no impact on archdiocese finances, saying the cost will be largely borne by the sale of other church-owned properties. Donors also have contributed to the project, Goodness said.

He declined to identify the properties to be sold or provide the amount of the private donations.

“There are not expected to be any expenses that can not be met by other real estate transactions, and it will remain an asset of the archdiocese,” Goodness said. “It is not a personal asset.”

Zech, the Villanova professor, challenged the idea that real estate sales should be used to upgrade Myers’ future full-time residence, saying the revenues should be used for the betterment of the archdiocese and its people, not the archbishop

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According to guidelines issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, all dioceses must provide a residence for retired bishops. The guidelines don’t specify, however, what kind of residence is required.

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The Bishop does not take a vow of poverty yet I hope the residence is for more than just one retiree.

 

[saintjohnxxiii]

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/2014/02/14282202-large.jpg

The Bishop does not take a vow of poverty yet I hope the residence is for more than just one retiree.

Why do I get the feeling that the Pope is going to intervene in this?!!

 

[RC_Sojourner]

That Archbishop in Germany spent $23 million, and that was for more people than himself. His residence included a museum that showed the history of the Diocese (which would probably employ someone), and would house an order of nuns, and have additional guest rooms.

This is just a $500,000 renovation.

Thought I’d put this in perspective. I don’t approve of extravagance in the Church, but I’m not going to turn into a Pharisee always scrutinizing every amenity of every Bishop’s residence.

Which, btw, none of those amenities seem excessive to me, if indeed, multiple people will be retired there (which is probably the case right?).

An indoor exercising pool, and a hot tub… probably both good things for retirees’ health.
An elevator… wheel chair accessible.
3 fireplaces… again, old joints and retired priests.

EDIT:
I forgot the library… I would hope that EVERY priest has a library. John Henry Newman had a library, and he practically lived in poverty… he ate 2 meals a day, and lived in a tiny, freezing complex with many other people. Priests need to be well-read and scholarly. They should all have libraries, and we should be giving them books as presents all the time!

 

[Marie5890]

Why do I get the feeling that the Pope is going to intervene in this?!!

What makes you think the Pope can intervene?

 

[M-Dent]

Which, btw, none of those amenities seem excessive to me, **if indeed, multiple people will be retired there (which is probably the case right?). **.

As I noted that is my hope.

If it’s serves a group of people it would be understandable.

 

[Lochias]

I love how people jump all over this stuff with absolutely no idea of who the Bishop is or what he may do everyday for the poor.

But, people will always find something to point at draw the gaze of others away from the ugliness staining their own lives (that we all have to some extent).

I hate threads like this, and the people who post them really, really ought to know better by now.

 

[VanSensei]

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/2014/02/14282202-large.jpg

The Bishop does not take a vow of poverty yet I hope the residence is for more than just one retiree.

Northern New Jersey is one of the country’s most affluent parts. 800k for a house like that is probably the norm.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I love how people jump all over this stuff with absolutely no idea of who the Bishop is or what he may do everyday for the poor.

You should see the political threads.

There’s uch: with some and :takethat:

 

[VanSensei]

You should see the political threads.

There’s uch: with some and :takethat:

Indeed. It’s gotten to the point that I’m all for a moratorium on those things.

 

[Cricket2]

Why do I get the feeling that the Pope is going to intervene in this?!!

I hope he does. This is an outrage.

 

[seaton2005]

OMG! This is troubling.

 

[Cider]

Why do I get the feeling that the Pope is going to intervene in this?!!

Who am I to Judge?

 

[VanSensei]

OMG! This is troubling.

It could be fine if it’s divvied between the bishop and say, retired pastors. But a McMansion for $800k all for one person?

 

[Cider]

**I love how people jump all over this stuff with absolutely no idea of who the Bishop is or what he may do everyday for the poor.
**
But, people will always find something to point at draw the gaze of others away from the ugliness staining their own lives (that we all have to some extent).

I hate threads like this, and the people who post them really, really ought to know better by now.

What would who he is or what he has done for the poor have to do with it?

 

[Cricket2]

What would who he is or what he has done for the poor have to do with it?

Nothing. There is simply no justification for this kind of expenditure because the this man is an archbishop. It is this kind of excess that leads to others being poor and going without. I would think a man of God would have trouble accepting this kind of set-up.

Now if they were to convert this place into a retirement home for not just him, but nuns and priests, that might be useful.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

What makes you think the Pope can intervene?

The Bishop of Limburg was suspended by Pope Francis.

 

[Cricket2]

That Archbishop in Germany spent $23 million, and that was for more people than himself. His residence included a museum that showed the history of the Diocese (which would probably employ someone), and would house an order of nuns, and have additional guest rooms.

This is just a $500,000 renovation.

Thought I’d put this in perspective. I don’t approve of extravagance in the Church, but I’m not going to turn into a Pharisee always scrutinizing every amenity of every Bishop’s residence.

Which, btw, none of those amenities seem excessive to me, if indeed, multiple people will be retired there (which is probably the case right?).

An indoor exercising pool, and a hot tub… probably both good things for retirees’ health.
An elevator… wheel chair accessible.
3 fireplaces… again, old joints and retired priests.

EDIT:
I forgot the library… I would hope that EVERY priest has a library. John Henry Newman had a library, and he practically lived in poverty… he ate 2 meals a day, and lived in a tiny, freezing complex with many other people. Priests need to be well-read and scholarly. They should all have libraries, and we should be giving them books as presents all the time!

Honestly, I would much rather see priests living a life that matched that of the poor a bit more. Most of the lay people I know don’t even have retirement. They lost it due to the economic practices started under Reagan in 1981 and since then. Maybe if we saw our priests living the kind of life we are forced to live they would be more believable. Sorry, but in 30 years I have known only one priest I would say was truly poor. The rest seem to have it pretty good.

This is an insult to the poor.

 

[ServusHumilis]

I think he would be fine with a nice apartment but as mentioned this may be a place for several priests to retire to. Perhaps it may also be used as a place for some guest priests to stay while in the diocese. It’s also an investment for the diocese. In my city you wouldn’t find a property half as nice for double the money. The older dioceses around the world surely have much more extravagant villas handed down from over the years than this.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

Northern New Jersey is one of the country’s most affluent parts. 800k for a house like that is probably the norm.

I was about to say this. While it might be above the norm, in fact, it’s certainly not ludicrous as many in other states in the U.S. might think. My parents house in a similar type of area is worth about the same, give or take, and while they have it pretty well they aren’t what you might call wealthy.

My young wife and I have looked at houses again in a similar area and finally settled on something worth about $400K, but we are just starting out in life. The costs of housing (and everything else) are inflated in these parts, but with salaries to match.

Anyway, it’s hardly surprising for any retiree who has worked hard all of his/her life to have housing slightly better than the norm. If only all hardworking retirees were so justly rewarded.

 

[Mr_Clean]

I love how people jump all over this stuff with absolutely no idea of who the Bishop is or what he may do everyday for the poor.

But, people will always find something to point at draw the gaze of others away from the ugliness staining their own lives (that we all have to some extent).

I hate threads like this, and the people who post them really, really ought to know better by now.

I think you got it right. My first thought was they can’t all be Fulton Sheen. You put this in the correct perspective. Let whoever is free of sin cast the 1st stone right? Remove the phonepole from our own eye before worrying about the speck in our brothers eye, etc… we should know better.