Should a Catholic School's principal's spouse be allowed to be the parish finance chair?

[Col40]

Our parish has been in absolute turmoil for the last year. . . several $$$$ parishioners have taken over and anyone who doesn’t agree with them can just leave.

We have a new pastor–first time for him running a parish. One previous pastor left on a “sabbatical” while the other was forced out by the principal and the principal’s minions. The new pastor, a Bishop sweetheart, goes along with whatever the $$$ crowd tells him.

Our parish school is under control of a seriously manipulative bully power player. Words fail to describe how bad it is—we personally are bailing that ship for another Catholic school. But as parishioners, we are very uncomfortable with the fact that the spouse of said principal was appointed as the parish FINANCIAL CHAIR. We know the parish business manager (who is a) opposed and b) about to be laid off) who said that they are consolidating finances. The principal’s daughter-in-law is Treasurer of the school’s HSA.

We know the Bishop in this diocese is more about loyalty to him, not doing the right thing. Any thoughts??? While this financial chair may be on the “up and up” and very knowledgeable on good finances, there is a greater concern about a lack of oversight (especially since the principal will stop at nothing to protect personal prestige and interest) This is a bad situation all around. Thoughts?

 

[byzancatholic]

Ok…

From the world of corporate America, this appointment of executive role(s) appears to show a conflict of interest.

One important factor that auditors examine when doing audit’s “due diligence” of a client organization (for profit or non-profit) is SEGREGATION OF RESPONSIBILTY/ DUTIES and SEPARATION OF ROLES.

Segregation of Duties is recognized as a key “success factor” for organizations to have checks and balances, minimizing any risk of wrongful conduct. Especially with power and decision-making.

Quoted from yale.edu/auditing/balancing/segregation_duties.html

No one person should:
:black_medium_small_square:Initiate transaction
:black_medium_small_square:Approve transaction
:black_medium_small_square:Record transaction
:black_medium_small_square:Reconcile balances
:black_medium_small_square:Handle assets
:black_medium_small_square:Review reports

Segregation of duties is critical to effective internal control; it reduces the risk of both erroneous and inappropriate actions. In general, the approval function, the accounting/reconciling function, and the asset custody function should be separated among employees. When these functions cannot be separated, a detailed supervisory review of related activities is required as a compensating control activity. Segregation of duties is a deterrent to fraud because it requires collusion with another person to perpetrate a fraudulent act.

But many private institutions have a “board” (i.e. executive board) that functions in a “checks and balances” for decision making with a principal or headmaster. And certainly somebody whose occupational role is executive finance.

Rather than act on anger, perhaps reach out to the school’s executive board and surface these issues. Take a good, close look at Yale University’s approach and its policy: there is nothing left to chance. I do not work for Yale, nor have I been a student at Yale. But I have a tremendous amount of business respect for how Yale has survived in New Haven CT and kept the city from dying. Yale manages its academic and administration function based on clear-cut business principles for business and financial administration. Nothing is left for chance.

Identify each transgression, concern and suspected “conflict of interest” in writing. Then take that list and address each with the school’s executive board in a board meeting. And come up with a remediation plan. You do not need an outside consultant for this to happen (although it might help - I’ve worked such projects and been the organization’s third pair of eyes for about 3-4 months).

Where is your pastor in all of this, if I might ask? Your pastor has an administrative responsibility, certainly a spiritual one. He is accountable.

 

[EasterJoy]

I’m still getting my head around the idea that there is someone out there who is both financially powerful and the principal of a parochial grade school. That is a new one on me!

As to the serious situation, go to the pastor of the parish at which your students will be students and ask if it is possible in your diocese to be full parishioners with rights to the sacraments if you do not have domicile within the physical boundaries of the parish. If it is (and many bishops do allow this for families that register at the parish and contribute regularly), then I think I’d “just leave.” If not, because you are attached to your parish and have resolved that you will not leave it, find some retired monsignor you know who pre-dates the present bishop and knows the lay of the land, and ask him for the advice he would offer.

 

[Cricket2]

Our parish has been in absolute turmoil for the last year. . . several $$$$ parishioners have taken over and anyone who doesn’t agree with them can just leave.

We have a new pastor–first time for him running a parish. One previous pastor left on a “sabbatical” while the other was forced out by the principal and the principal’s minions. The new pastor, a Bishop sweetheart, goes along with whatever the $$$ crowd tells him.

Our parish school is under control of a seriously manipulative bully power player. Words fail to describe how bad it is—we personally are bailing that ship for another Catholic school. But as parishioners, we are very uncomfortable with the fact that the spouse of said principal was appointed as the parish FINANCIAL CHAIR. We know the parish business manager (who is a) opposed and b) about to be laid off) who said that they are consolidating finances. The principal’s daughter-in-law is Treasurer of the school’s HSA.

We know the Bishop in this diocese is more about loyalty to him, not doing the right thing. Any thoughts??? While this financial chair may be on the “up and up” and very knowledgeable on good finances, there is a greater concern about a lack of oversight (especially since the principal will stop at nothing to protect personal prestige and interest) This is a bad situation all around. Thoughts?

I know what I would do, and I have done just this type of thing: Advise the Bishop that you will be contacting the media to investigate this apparent financial misconduct and suggest to him you better see some meaningful changes. The Church as plenty of scandal to deal with when it comes to sexual matters. Adding some financial impropriety to the problem won’t sit well.

For those who don’t agree, I am sorry. But I learned long ago that if you want something done it often takes just this kind of threat to get there. What has been described indicates a lot of “conflict of interest” and it needs reported. I think the media would be good way to wake some folks up including the Bishop.

If I was a member of this parish you better believe that I would be rocking the boat but good. I would of course have proof and be very certain that things suspected were truly going on. This kind of rubbish needs to stop.

 

[nodito]

Are the dollar signs ($) meant to indicate financial wealth/influence or are they stand in for swears?

Can you give an example of something negative or abusive the “$$$ crowd” has told the pastor that he has gone along with?

I ask because my initial thought is that, without knowing more specifics, it’s hard for me to categorically condemn the situation. Did anyone else volunteer for finance chair? Did you? Is it possible that the current business manager has an axe to grind? It can be hard to find people to fill key positions, and if that principal’s spouse has a vested interested in having the parish do well, as well as the experience to make that happen, it makes sense to me that s/he would be appointed.

I admit I don’t know much about the way parish schools are run. Maybe someone else can help me out. Is it always a bad idea to consolidate finances? Could this help the school or the church in the long run?

 

[Neofight]

Our parish has been in absolute turmoil for the last year. . . several $$$$ parishioners have taken over and anyone who doesn’t agree with them can just leave.

We have a new pastor–first time for him running a parish. One previous pastor left on a “sabbatical” while the other was forced out by the principal and the principal’s minions. The new pastor, a Bishop sweetheart, goes along with whatever the $$$ crowd tells him.

Our parish school is under control of a seriously manipulative bully power player. Words fail to describe how bad it is—we personally are bailing that ship for another Catholic school. But as parishioners, we are very uncomfortable with the fact that the spouse of said principal was appointed as the parish FINANCIAL CHAIR. We know the parish business manager (who is a) opposed and b) about to be laid off) who said that they are consolidating finances. The principal’s daughter-in-law is Treasurer of the school’s HSA.

We know the Bishop in this diocese is more about loyalty to him, not doing the right thing. Any thoughts??? While this financial chair may be on the “up and up” and very knowledgeable on good finances, there is a greater concern about a lack of oversight (especially since the principal will stop at nothing to protect personal prestige and interest) This is a bad situation all around. Thoughts?

Maybe it’s just me…but, maybe it’s just you! You seem to have pretty uncharitable remarks about everyone from the bishop down to the people in the pews. Do you have an axe to grind? Seems odd you can’t find a single ray of sunshine in your parish.

Might be time for some internal reflection and humility adjustment.

 

[EasterJoy]

Maybe it’s just me…but, maybe it’s just you! You seem to have pretty uncharitable remarks about everyone from the bishop down to the people in the pews. Do you have an axe to grind? Seems odd you can’t find a single ray of sunshine in your parish.

Might be time for some internal reflection and humility adjustment.

If this is the case, I’m thinking a visit with that older priest might clear it up. They’ve been known to be able to speak the truth as they see it, and they know what sort of reputation a bishop has in the larger diocese. Such a priest may be too wise to say much, but he is likely to be able to ask the right questions and make a few very useful observations that come from his greater experience and knowledge of the diocese as a whole. A person willing to learn can learn a lot about parish “politics” and the realities of parish and diocesan life by listening carefully to what an older priest has to say.

If the family leaves the parish and is allowed to try a new one, OTOH, and the grass is not so green over there as imagined, well, the geographic parish is a home like Frost’s definitions of home: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in” or "Something you somehow haven’t to deserve.” (from The Death of the Hired Man, 1915)

According to canon law, the* right* to receive those sacraments one is properly disposed to receive operates only in one’s own parish, unless the diocesan bishop directs his priests to expand on which of the faithful of the diocese are to be included in their definition of “parishioner.” Before “changing parishes,” a wise couple will find out if their bishop even allows such a thing. If your children may only receive their First Holy Communion and Confirmation by going through preparations in your geographical parish, or if that is the only place you may have a funeral or a wedding, the place you have to call if you need the Anointing of the Sick, think twice before you burn the bridges that go back there. Your homecomings, in that case, may be thinner than you need, given the reason you are back.

 

[tawny]

Our parish has been in absolute turmoil for the last year. . . several $$$$ parishioners have taken over and anyone who doesn’t agree with them can just leave.

We have a new pastor–first time for him running a parish. One previous pastor left on a “sabbatical” while the other was forced out by the principal and the principal’s minions. The new pastor, a Bishop sweetheart, goes along with whatever the $$$ crowd tells him.

Our parish school is under control of a seriously manipulative bully power player. Words fail to describe how bad it is—we personally are bailing that ship for another Catholic school. But as parishioners, we are very uncomfortable with the fact that the spouse of said principal was appointed as the parish FINANCIAL CHAIR. We know the parish business manager (who is a) opposed and b) about to be laid off) who said that they are consolidating finances. The principal’s daughter-in-law is Treasurer of the school’s HSA.

We know the Bishop in this diocese is more about loyalty to him, not doing the right thing. Any thoughts??? While this financial chair may be on the “up and up” and very knowledgeable on good finances, there is a greater concern about a lack of oversight (especially since the principal will stop at nothing to protect personal prestige and interest) This is a bad situation all around. Thoughts?

I have never heard of this kind of a situation before. May I ask what is your Diocese/Archdiocese? Is your Chancery aware of this situation?

 

[pianistclare]

@Tawny.
I got an infraction for asking someone what Diocese they were in, when my diocese had a scandal. A poster seemed bent on defending the scandal, so I asked.
Wham-o,.
Likely they won’t say where they are, anyway.

 

[Cricket2]

I’m still getting my head around the idea that there is someone out there who is both financially powerful and the principal of a parochial grade school. That is a new one on me!

As to the serious situation, go to the pastor of the parish at which your students will be students and ask if it is possible in your diocese to be full parishioners with rights to the sacraments if you do not have domicile within the physical boundaries of the parish. If it is (and many bishops do allow this for families that register at the parish and contribute regularly), then I think I’d “just leave.” If not, because you are attached to your parish and have resolved that you will not leave it, find some retired monsignor you know who pre-dates the present bishop and knows the lay of the land, and ask him for the advice he would offer.

I gather from your comment that you doubt a principal of a parochial grade school could be financially well off. Just why wouldn’t they be? It all amounts to what is relative for the area. The power this person feels, if that is the issue, may be nothing more than that related to being in charge. If he/she has authority over any amount of monies in the budget and how it is or is not spent, then they have power.

I was aware of this sort of think in a community college. The VP’s did not make “tons” of money, but it was still more than the rest of the “low end folks” like myself made. And they made no bones about tossing their power around at people. Just the fact that they had authority over spending at the college was enough to make them think they were the Lord Himself. I suspect a lot of what is happening is simply about power versus power due to being “wealthy.”

So, even in financially poorer situations the guy who has the say over how the money is managed is the guy that can go power hungry and be a source of scandal. And that is not hard to understand at all.

 

[Col40]

Thank you for all the replies.

In answer to some of the questions. . .

$$$ refers to wealthy parishioners and school parents who have influenced the pastors to do what they want—get rid of people they don’t like (a former principal so that this person could get the job; pastor who didn’t agree with her). People who have helped have been “rewarded” (contracts, etc.)

The school board and parish council are very much in support of this principal–the school board is pretty much hand picked by her. It’s like the mutual admiration society.

As far as leaving the parish–I have no clue what some of you are talking about with regard to “geography”. If there is some rule about being a member of a parish based on “geography”–we’ve been breaking it for 25 years. Our closest church is up the street–we’re parishioners in the parish I grew up in which is 7 miles away. Joining another parish is a option we’re exploring.

The SOD answer from ByzanCatholic is pretty much what I suspected is the case. At this point, I know there are others who are questioning this, who have more ability to fight. I’ve fought enough battles at this school/parish, trying to promote what was right, not popular. I’m tired. But I needed to hear that I wasn’t off in my thinking that this is probably not a smart move. So thank you.