J
JReducation
Guest
This bod is mine. The sentence is very judgmental and unfortunate. We cannot judge the many by the sins of the few. Original sin has tainted all of us, not just those in religious life. If we, religious, were not tainted by Original sin, there would be no need for constant conversion, which is a given in religious life.
That being said, for us power has nothing to do with money. The money that people give to my pregnancy centers, my fatherhood program, my ministry to the sick and elderly who are threatened by active and passive euthanasia does not benefit me one way or another. I don’t see it and I don’t get to enjoy any of it. It goes to where it is meant, to serve our people.
The power of which we speak here has to do with autonomy from lay and episcopal control. Pope Innocent III realized that the laity and the bishops were using money as a means to control religious life. Not only money, but also their positions in civil and ecclesial circles. That’s why he declared that religious orders of Pontifical Right could never be governed by the laity or the bishops, but must govern themselves. To this day, those of us who belong to religious orders of pontifical right make our own rules, policies, and decide what direction our work and life takes. When that’s agreed upon by the capitulars, it is sent to the Holy See for papal approval.
As was said above, you keep the number of cooks to the bare minimum to avoid confusion, coercion, and micromanagement of religious orders.
If someone does not want to give the Brothers of Life any money, because we decide what goes into our constitutions or how we minister, that’s fine with us. No one is obliged to give us a cent. God has plenty of money and he will provide for the people whom we serve, one way or another. It’s unfortunate if someone decides not to support our work for the unborn and the parents, the sick and ederly, the hungry and homeless, because they don’t have a vote in our chapters. It’s unfortunate, because what it says is that the would be benefactor wants to give and get something in return, which is a voice in the community. When I give my nephews and nieces a gift, I do not give it with the intention of having a voice in their lives or their work. I give it out of love.
When someone gives the Brothers of Life a gift, they give it out of love for the vulnerable peopel that the Brothers serve. If they want to know whether they are being ripped off or not all they have to do is look at the facts: 1) we walk, because we don’t own cars. 2) we have two habits and no other clothing. 3) we eat one meal a day, because we have no salaries and no income. 4) we beg to raise the funds necessary to pay for our education and to care for our sick brothers. 5) none of us has medical insurance, because we cannot afford to pay for it. 6) we are not in debt with anyone. 7) we do not own the houses in which we live, they are rented or on loan to us. 8) I’ve got cancer and am going to die, because medicaid does not pay for all of my treatments. 9) we spend long hours in prayer, silence, solitude and brotherhood. 10) we’re very happy.
As to secrets, each religious order is a family, not an institution. Families are to be honest and discrete. Families do not share everything with the world around them. We’re no different. Our Fathers founded families and that is what we are and we have the same rights as any other family. We share when and what we want and we don’t share other things, just like your family. Money has nothing to do with this. Every cent that we receive is really for a service that we provide, just like you receive a salary for services that you provide. The difference is that we don’t receive the same amount as other people who do the same things in the secular world. One of our brothers who teaches gets a roof, one meal a day, two habits and the supplies to teach. Other teachers get enough money to take a vacation.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
