Puzzled About Parish Spending

  • Thread starter Thread starter timmy123
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

timmy123

Guest
Is it acceptable that a pastor takes fellow clergy, seminarians, and non-clergy friends out for expensive meals using parish money on a regular basis? A parish is obliged to provide meals of high quality to all the priests in residence, including restaurant meals when they are out. Even so, it seems like a terrible abuse when the pastor eats out several nights a week, and at least 1-2 times a week, pays for other people’s restaurant meals. There is a cook who comes here six evenings a week. It is all the more strange when the same pastor keeps saying how the parish has no money to pay for essential items. Is this a common situation?
 
timmy123 said:
A parish is obliged to provide meals of high quality to all the priests in residence, including restaurant meals when they are out.
Click to expand...
Parish Council should be informed about this and make a decision. Honestly, the Priest should be preparing his own food. These aren’t the Good Ol’ Days!
timmy123 said:
It is all the more strange when the same pastor keeps saying how the parish has no money to pay for essential items. Is this a common situation?
Click to expand...
Actually, the Diocese might like to hear about this…
 
Last edited:
What we’re getting here is somebody who is ‘saying’ that the priest is doing X. . . How does he know?
 
They could be part of Parish Council… Finance Committee?
 
Last edited:
Again, why isn’t he (or she) asking the priest? The entire way this is phrased smells off to me.
 
timmy123 said:
Is it acceptable that a pastor takes fellow clergy, seminarians, and non-clergy friends out for expensive meals using parish money on a regular basis? A parish is obliged to provide meals of high quality to all the priests in residence, including restaurant meals when they are out. Even so, it seems like a terrible abuse when the pastor eats out several nights a week, and at least 1-2 times a week, pays for other people’s restaurant meals. There is a cook who comes here six evenings a week. It is all the more strange when the same pastor keeps saying how the parish has no money to pay for essential items. Is this a common situation?
Click to expand...
How do you know he’s using parish money? How do you know the meals are expensive?
 
Cruciferi said:
Actually, the Diocese might like to hear about this…
Click to expand...
We might want to have some solid facts, first. You know, make sure it’s not just “somebody told me that somebody else saw Father X having dinner with Joe, Jim, & Harry at such-&-such ritzy restaurant.”
 
You should never insinuate or directly accuse someone of misappropriation! Especially in the absence of witnesses 😐

No, it should be brought before Parish Council or to the Diocese.
 
Last edited:
Precisely. Plenty of priests (diocesean) have funds of their own. I’ve known priests who have had funds available; parents have died and left the children money and property. Diocesean priests aren’t obliged to ‘give all they have’ to the diocese. And what if the restaurants hire disadvantaged people, and having a nice meal and leaving a good tip benefits those people? I just can’t get over the ‘slant’.
 
Where did I say accuse or insinuate? Or talk about misappropriation???
 
And not, I think, presented as a "What do you good people think’ about a hearsay anecdote on a message board. . " right?
 
I wasn’t referring to you personally but as a general principle. The OP believes funds are being misused. So, I don’t advise confronting the Priest.
 
"And I’m worried that he’s using PARISH FUNDS for all those meals because there’s a COOK who comes, so why aren’t they eating at HOME? And he’s always saying there’s not enough money for necessities. . . "
 
That’s something that should be brought before council. If there’s any proof…
 
Ah, I see, Thanks for explaining! Right, certainly not confrontational. But going on a message board isn’t the way to go. And as Angel said, getting some ‘facts’ on board is going to help.
 
The OP should tread lightly. I’ve seen these accusations fly around at Parishes before. Sometimes they’re founded and other times they’re rumors.
 
Hmmm, “Timmy” joined 44 minutes ago and posted this 30 minutes ago, only post. Well, hopefully he’ll find the answers useful.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top