Parishioners billed $72,000 for TLM (not a joke)

[universalindult]

AQ Report

Latin Mass Community to be charged $72,000 for Mass

By John Grasmeier
Angelqueen.org
April, 2008

Since the release of Summorum Pontificum - Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio removing restrictions on celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass - many local prelates and their diocesan hirelings have gone to great lengths to make life as difficult as possible for Catholics seeking to take advantage of it. From requiring priests to sit for formal Latin language examinations before offering the TLM, to suffering difficult (and even unlawful) permission schemes, traditionalist priests and lay persons have had to suffer all types of dubiously devised obstacles laid out for them by hostile ecclesiastical chains of command.

Some who follow such matters may tend to think they’ve heard everything regarding these shenanigans. Others, who know better, realize that when it comes to suppressing of the immemorial rite, never think you’ve heard everything.

In a first (a first not only in anti-TLM hubris, but quite possibly a first in the history of Holy Church) the TLM community in the diocese of Portland Maine was billed for their Mass. They are to be charged $72,000 per year, with an initial $18,000 down payment being due on or before July 1st, only a little over 2 1/2 months from the time this is being written.

The 72-grand will go toward the priest’s salary and benefits, office supplies and, astoundingly, rental of the church. Should anyone think this a joke or simply too outrageous to be believed, the following is presented:

3 April 2008

Dear Members of the Latin Mass Community:

Christ is Risen & Lives Forever!

As Msgr. Marc Caron, the chancellor of the Diocese, announced to you some weeks past, Bishop Richard Malone has honored me with the newly created position of Chaplain to the Latin Mass Community in south-central Maine effective 1 July 2008. I look forward to serving and working with the faithful who are attached to the extraordinary form of the Roman liturgy. Initially, I will be celebrating Holy Mass in the extraordinary form every Sunday at 8:00 AM at the Basilica of Ss Peter & Paul in Lewiston and at noon at the Cathedral Chapel in Portland. Once the Chaplaincy is underway, additional Masses will be scheduled at other locations as the need increases and other priests are available. I also will be available to you for the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals, including funerals, as needed.

I am happy to announce that the Bishop has accepted a request for a patron for the Latin Mass Chaplaincy. We will now be known as the :

St. Gregory the Great Latin Mass Chaplaincy

As Bishop Malone announced, the Chaplaincy will be funded by those benefiting from this ministry, and the Chaplaincy will continue only if there is sufficient funding to meet its expenses. The initial annual budget has been prepared, which I have approved and accepted. The budget for the first year is $72,000.00 and includes salary, room & board, health insurance and pension, travel expenses, church rental, office expenses, and other ministy (sic) expenses.

Prior to 1 July, and before the Chaplaincy will begin, we are required to raise from contributions one-quarter of our annual budget, or $18,000.00. This initial funding is necessary to ensure that we will be financially independent and able to meet our weekly ongoing expenses as the Chaplaincy begins and grows. We must begin our fundraising efforts immediately to raise this initial amount. We have established an account at TD Banknorth in Lewiston that will be used exclusively for the Chaplaincy. Contributions to the Chaplaincy should be made by check payable to “St Gregory (the Great) Latin Mass Chaplaincy” and sent to the following address: Latin Mass Chaplaincy, Department of Ministerial Services, P.O. Box 11559, Portland, Maine 04104. Please be as generous as your means allow.

After 1 July collections taken up at all the Masses of the Chaplaincy will go totally to the support of the Chaplaincy. Also the faithful will be able to register with the Chaplaincy and will have their own envelopes come the New Year. I will also be making regular financial reports to the community.

I will be able to join you and address you after Mass on Sunday 20 April 2008 at the Cathedral to enlist your support for the many important tasks we must undertake in order to build the Chaplaincy so that it will be a vital, growing, and long-lasting ministry in the Diocese. I also hope to answer any questions you may have. Unfortunately I may arrive during the Mass as I must complete my duties in Sabattus first. I hope you will be able to stay for a short reception after Mass so that we may become personally acquainted.

I thank all the priests who have served and who will continue to serve you. They have been a blessing from God. I look forward to meeting and serving you. May God prosper the work of our hands.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Robert A. Parent

 

[Pious_Mat]

Has Fr. Z gotten a hold of this yet? He’s sure to incensed! (no pun intended).

In all seriously, this is disheartening and disgusting. Another example of traditional catholics being treated as second-class Christians. Sometimes I wish that a certain group of Bishops would be systematically struck but lightning, but then common sense and charity kick in. I then realize that this is clearly a cross the Lord has given to some of his most devout followers to see if their charity is as deep as it ought to be, and ensure that we (traditionalists) do not follow the example of the SSPX and give up on charity and obedience regarding the magisterium.

That said, I hope that this Diocese recieves thousands of charitable letters begging that these unjust actions be recanted.

The rest of us can pray for these poor souls who are only asking for Mass and recieve a huge bill for it.

 

[Joe17]

I would recommend they not give the diocese any doe. Who knows what they would use it for.
People should look into Lewiston, ME where Fr Benedict Hughes says Mass twice a month on Sundays in the afternoon. I know it’s a hike for some, and some would have problems with the doctrinal stand, but you would get a Catholic Mass and sermon. Also, the catechism has recently started there taught by two Sisters.

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom-pray for us

 

[ProVobis]

I guess it IS all about the money. I thought it was illegal to charge for the sacraments.

 

[universalindult]

I guess it IS all about the money. I thought it was illegal to charge for the sacraments.

Indeed…

Simony

(From Simon Magus; Acts 8:18-24)

Simony is usually defined “a deliberate intention of buying or selling for a temporal price such things as are spiritual of annexed unto spirituals”. While this definition only speaks of purchase and sale, any exchange of spiritual for temporal things is simoniacal. Nor is the giving of the temporal as the price of the spiritual required for the existence of simony; according to a proposition condemned by Innocent XI (Denzinger-Bannwart, no. 1195) it suffices that the determining motive of the action of one party be the obtaining of compensation from the other.

The various temporal advantages which may be offered for a spiritual favour are, after Gregory the Great, usually divided in three classes. These are: (1) the munus a manu (material advantage), which comprises money, all movable and immovable property, and all rights appreciable in pecuniary value; (2) the munus a lingua (oral advantage) which includes oral commendation, public expressions of approval, moral support in high places; (3) the munus ab obsequio (homage) which consists in subserviency, the rendering of undue services, etc.

The spiritual object includes whatever is conducive to the eternal welfare of the soul, i.e. all supernatural things: sanctifying grace, the sacraments, sacramentals, etc.

…

 

[lovesMary]

It sounds to me as if they want to make sure there is enough support for this ministry in order to keep it going. Is this a wrong thing? I don’t know much about how the Church finances things.

Maybe they are gauging interest in this ministry by the financial commitment of the parishioners. If the attendees to the TLM pony up it is one way to gauge their true commitment.

Just a thought. It actually doesn’t seem unreasonable to me. If enough people are interested and financially support it, it will surely grow!

 

[ProVobis]

If enough people are interested and financially support it, it will surely grow!

That is true. However, it is rather scandalous to charge a specific amount. I don’t think it’s wrong to suggest higher contributions, however.

Depends on the wording, I guess.

rental of the church

A little moneychanging going on perhaps?

Also sounds a little opportunistic. Didn’t see the words “more business for the Church” in the S.P.

 

[Kielbasi]

It doesn’t sound that terrible at all.

The Latin Mass Community is a separate entity and they are using another parish’s facility. Cleaning , lights, gas, wear and tear, plowing the church parking lot, all cost money.

Its a cost sharing proposal and the $72,000 is for the whole year.

 

[Spiller]

It doesn’t sound that terrible at all.

The Latin Mass Community is a separate entity and they are using another parish’s facility. Cleaning , lights, gas, wear and tear, plowing the church parking lot, all cost money.

Its a cost sharing proposal and the $72,000 is for the whole year.

Bingo. It’s time that those who want the Tridentine Mass get out their checkbooks. That’s about $1,400/week – not a huge nut to crack. More difficulty with the up-front money, but that’s also a GREAT indicator of TRUE interest in having the Tridentine Mass.

Any well run parish has a budget. It may seem a little unsettling to break-out the numbers in such a clear manner but there is nothing wrong with it.

Someone is paying all those expenses. It’s not reasonable for someone else to subsidize this group.

The only thing I could possibly see is the diocese eating the church rental for the first year – as it is a sunk cost and there would be very little opportunity cost associated with letting them borrow the church, but charging them seems more than fair.

Here locally the collection at the Tridentine Mass simply goes to the parish where it is celebrated and the visiting (retired) priest gets a stipend from the parish.

 

[universalindult]

It doesn’t sound that terrible at all.

The Latin Mass Community is a separate entity and they are using another parish’s facility. Cleaning , lights, gas, wear and tear, plowing the church parking lot, all cost money.

Its a cost sharing proposal and the $72,000 is for the whole year.

Do they charge the Spanish mass community $72,000 per year for masses?

If so, then this is no big deal.

If not, then this IS the grave sin of simony.

 

[Spiller]

Do they charge the Spanish mass community $72,000 per year for masses?

If so, then this is no big deal.

If not, then this IS the grave sin of simony.

You’re not grasping the finances…

The English, Spanish and whatever-else speakers are ALREADY paying their way…

 

[Spiller]

Has Fr. Z gotten a hold of this yet? He’s sure to incensed! (no pun intended).

In all seriously, this is disheartening and disgusting. Another example of traditional catholics being treated as second-class Christians. Sometimes I wish that a certain group of Bishops would be systematically struck but lightning, but then common sense and charity kick in. I then realize that this is clearly a cross the Lord has given to some of his most devout followers to see if their charity is as deep as it ought to be, and ensure that we (traditionalists) do not follow the example of the SSPX and give up on charity and obedience regarding the magisterium.

That said, I hope that this Diocese recieves thousands of charitable letters begging that these unjust actions be recanted.

The rest of us can pray for these poor souls who are only asking for Mass and recieve a huge bill for it.

I would rather see that chaplaincy receive TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars from those willing to support the Tridentine Mass.

 

[Spiller]

This begs a whole other thread. In general, on average, Catholics simply don’t give anywhere near as much as our Protestant and Orthodox and Jewish brethren.

THAT fact is largely what’s causing the unrest about the $72K/year.

 

[universalindult]

You’re not grasping the finances…

The English, Spanish and whatever-else speakers are ALREADY paying their way…

Nonsense.

So are those of us who desire the TLM.

 

[universalindult]

This begs a whole other thread. In general, on average, Catholics simply don’t give anywhere near as much as our Protestant and Orthodox and Jewish brethren.

THAT fact is largely what’s causing the unrest about the $72K/year.

Traditional Catholics are known to be far more generous, on average, than the average Catholic.

 

[ProVobis]

Someone is paying all those expenses. It’s not reasonable for someone else to subsidize this group.

It really saddens me to hear such talk, especially when in some cases like the Institutum Christi Regis, they actually pay a lot of money up front (albeit with a little help from the bishop) to restore those churches which have been closed for lack of NO attendance.

Also, who subsidized the razings of the high altars, the communion rails, the confessionals, and the statues that symbolized all things traditional in the Church? What about the priestly scandals within the Church in the last 40 years? Or what about Vatican II itself? Who bought the Church property for the Church? It was mostly my and your grandparents who subsidized so that all could enjoy a new vernacular Mass.

My point is that it takes all Catholics to work together to enjoy the treasures and pleasures that the Catholic Church has to offer. If you don’t like them, then by all means seek comfort elsewhere. It’s not a “we vs them, educated vs uneducated, renters vs landlords, poor vs rich” Church that the Church needs to portray.

 

[universalindult]

If the folks in Maine don’t put a stop to this, every TLM community in the world is going to be paying exorbitant fees for the mass and the sacraments according to the ancient rite.

If there truly are simply two forms of one Latin Rite, as the Pope maintains in Summorum Pontificum, then there is no basis for this extortion whatsoever. No one should be forced to pay this kind of price simply for access to their birthright and Latin Rite.

 

[Spiller]

If the folks in Maine don’t put a stop to this, every TLM community in the world is going to be paying exorbitant fees for the mass and the sacraments according to the ancient rite.

If there truly are simply two forms of one Latin Rite, as the Pope maintains in Summorum Pontificum, then there is no basis for this extortion whatsoever. No one should be forced to pay this kind of price simply for access to their birthright and Latin Rite.

Parishes close all the time when they lack the attendance and revenue to remain open. Why is this a special case? Why should others subsidize the Latin Mass?

 

[universalindult]

A important distinction from the discussion at the link:

This TLM community has been in place for years, and has been refused an (ostensibly free of charge) FSSP priest when they indicated they could provide one willing and able.

The diocese currently has all types of Masses, including Spanish language Masses. Nobody, including the Latinos are billed.

What if the Latino community suddenly started receiving a bill for $72,000 per year, after the Spanish mass had already been in existence for many years?

 

[Spiller]

It really saddens me to hear such talk, especially when in some cases like the Institutum Christi Regis, they actually pay a lot of money up front (albeit with a little help from the bishop) to restore those churches which have been closed for lack of NO attendance.

Also, who subsidized the razings of the high altars, the communion rails, the confessionals, and the statues that symbolized all things traditional in the Church? What about the priestly scandals within the Church in the last 40 years? Or what about Vatican II itself? Who bought the Church property for the Church? It was mostly my and your grandparents who subsidized so that all could enjoy a new vernacular Mass.

My point is that it takes all Catholics to work together to enjoy the treasures and pleasures that the Catholic Church has to offer. If you don’t like them, then by all means seek comfort elsewhere. It’s not a “we vs them, educated vs uneducated, renters vs landlords, poor vs rich” Church that the Church needs to portray.

So exactly where should the $72K/year come from?