Offetory

[Sarabande]

Thanks for the references. I8% seems very out of hand, but as you said the situation in Boston is a bit of a mess. We are going through a number of parish closing and downsizing/selling of diocese properties in Philadelphia as well - the result I fear of years of financial mismanagement and not planning for the future.

Yes, I believe you are correct. A priest I know in that diocese told me that the closures (especially of the schools) were needed 10-15 years ago, but people just didn’t want to admit to the fact that there were problems. I think Chaput is doing a good job in Philadelphia even though it has been very sad seeing some of these properties go, having grown up with them and thinking they would always be there. It’s a good lesson in not allowing material things own you.

Side note… what’s happening with the old Kennedy-Kendrick building? I saw a sign saying it was going to become Pope John Paul II high school, but that was back in 2010 and nothing has been done since then. Has the kibosh been placed on that?

In regards to the OP - I agree with what others have said here. I’ve never heard of a priest making those kinds of comments about the money offerings, but it might be different in another country or just a misunderstanding?

 

[Luz_Maria]

Thanks for the references. I8% seems very out of hand, but as you said the situation in Boston is a bit of a mess. We are going through a number of parish closing and downsizing/selling of diocese properties in Philadelphia as well - the result I fear of years of financial mismanagement and not planning for the future.

Just wondering, who was “in charge” of the Philadelphia diocese before your Bishop now?

 

[quiet52]

The bishop of each diocese establishes the salary each secular priest receives. Pastors might receive a little more than non-pastors. It used to be $1500/1800 in my diocese but it might have been increased. The priests usually receive free housing, a car, health insurance and a food budget in addition.
Priests in religious orders, under the authority of their superiors, generally receive spending money and free everything else.

 

[Phemie]

The bishop of each diocese establishes the salary each secular priest receives. Pastors might receive a little more than non-pastors. It used to be $1500/1800 in my diocese but it might have been increased. The priests usually receive free housing, a car, health insurance and a food budget in addition.
Priests in religious orders, under the authority of their superiors, generally receive spending money and free everything else.

In our diocese the salary for diocesan priests just went up for the first time in about 10 years. They are not provided with a car. Their car allowance and ‘free’ room and board are taxable benefits.

For our parish this is a bit of a shock. Our parish was erected 55 years ago and until 2012 we’d always had religious priests. The diocese negotiated a contract for their services with their Congregation. They were paid less than half what the diocesans were and the diocese provided a car for which the parish assumed responsibility. But that particular religious Congregation is aging and last year they could no longer provide priests to us. The bishop had to recruit far and wide. In an ironic twist, a religious Congregation that had sent missionaries to India was now replaced by Indian priests.