Upscale private home for celibate church official?

[TLM08]

Our archdiocese recently purchased an upscale private home in an affluent neighborhood for a celibate church official to live in. The home’s value is roughly three to four times the median price for a home in this county. What could possibly be the justification for something like this?

I can’t help but to chuckle to myself whenever the collection basket come my way. I’m starting to feel like the joke is on us.

 

[Newbie2]

Send a letter to the Archdiocese and ask for an explanation. You probably won’t get an adequate one. …in which case I personally would continue to send letters, but I’m a PITA.

You can make your contributions directly to where you want them to go…your parish building fund, certain Catholic charities, or buy “things” for charity rather than give money. Just let them know you’re doing so. One voice may not make a difference.

On the other hand, it is within the realm of possibility that they’re using it as an investment…although real estate hasn’t done so well lately.

 

[LilyM]

Send a letter to the Archdiocese and ask for an explanation. You probably won’t get an adequate one. …in which case I personally would continue to send letters, but I’m a PITA.

You can make your contributions directly to where you want them to go…your parish building fund, certain Catholic charities, or buy “things” for charity rather than give money. Just let them know you’re doing so. One voice may not make a difference.

On the other hand, it is within the realm of possibility that they’re using it as an investment…although real estate hasn’t done so well lately.

Real estate over time is almost certain to be a fair investment in most places - they just need to sit tight through the present bust cycle. Who knows, maybe they bought it for a lot less than you think even if it is in a seemingly nicer-than-average neighbourhood. Such things do happen in economic downturns.

 

[puzzleannie]

it may be the land was bought for future building of a church or other facility, and local code requires building to begin, so the home is constructed for that view. If it is for the residence of a bishop, these buildings, when larger and more elaborate, also serve as residences for retired priests, seminarians, visiting priests, as well as conference centers and offices, or retreat center. Probably worthwhile finding out exactly how it will be used.

Had a lot of cricism in former diocese when a large estate was purchased, where bishop lived, but his former residence was torn down to expand diocesan offices (and would have been prohibitively expensive to remodel) and the current property serves all those uses listed above, and more. For the first time there is a place in the diocese for large enough for retreats and conferences, yet his residence is isolated enough to offer him privacy and solitude for prayer. And he lives an austere almost monastic life in his personal quarters. curious choice of forum

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Our archdiocese recently purchased an upscale private home in an affluent neighborhood for a celibate church official to live in.

Are you sure it was purchased? Many times people donate property to the Church, especially the kind of people who can afford upscale homes in affluent neighborhoods.

 

[TLM08]

Are you sure it was purchased? Many times people donate property to the Church, especially the kind of people who can afford upscale homes in affluent neighborhoods.

Yes, this home was purchased outright. It was not a donation. This official’s predecessor lived in a one bedroom apartment on the campus of catholic school from what I understand.

I don’t see any need for a celibate religious who has taken a vow of poverty to live in such opulence and privacy. What ever happened to a priest living in the rectory anyway? Here we have all of these rectories sitting empty while the church is buying upscale homes. It just doesn’t look good either.

Wouldn’t it make sense to have the remaining priests of the diocese group up and fill a few of these empty rectories?

 

[maize]

maybe hes in training to be the new pope?

 

[manualman]

It’s probably an excellent investment opportunity for the diocese.

Think about it.

1. Real Estate values are in the toilet right now, so they probably got it for a steal.
2. The Church pays no property taxes. Not sure about your area, but around here, that’s a HUGE amount of money.
3. Diocesan officials often have a need to entertain small to medium events and groups. If this home can do that, it meets a need.

With the tax breaks and low prices right now, I’d not be surprised if such a property could end up costing the diocese NOTHING over a ten year period (assuming it is sold at market value at the end of that period). Heck, I pulled that off in my first house in the Chicago suburbs not so long ago and I pay a LOT of property taxes.

But I will agree with you that our diocesan priests would be better off if they lived in community and each had a superior that they had to answer to and obey on a regular basis.

 

[ModsAreStupid]

Hello, yes it’s me again. No, I won’t give up my protest. The Mods on this website are jerks, so I’ll protesting until they un-ban my previous usernames and apologize for their wrong doing. I will protest everyday until they make the peace…

Rules of the forum:

1. If you support any sort of view that is different than what the mods believe, you will be banned. Discussion is not open for different and new ideas. Even if Catholicism is making a mistake, we support tradition.
2. Everything the Catholic Church has ever done has been infallible. Therefore, there is no need for you to question anything about Catholicism, the Church is perfect. If the Church told you to kill someone, you should do it, no questions asked.
3. Any rude and ignorant comments to others stating “You are not a true Catholic if you voted for Obama” will be accepted and is encouraged.
4. God didn’t give you this conscience to use for yourself. You must substitute other peoples judgment for your own, and never question them, because their judgment is better.
5. If you child someday asks you if they should use a condom, you should tell them “No, let yourself get HIV instead.”
6. Stupidity and loss of common sense are encouraged.

 

[jmcrae]

Our archdiocese recently purchased an upscale private home in an affluent neighborhood for a celibate church official to live in. The home’s value is roughly three to four times the median price for a home in this county. What could possibly be the justification for something like this?

One possibility is that he is meant to be entertaining secular heads of state or powerful men of business, for the purpose of furthering the message of the Gospel in the realms of politics and business.

Another possibility, which has already been mentioned, is that the house will be used for a community of priests or a male religious order, with rooms being made available for retreats, etc.

 

[Cristiano]

Hello, yes it’s me again. No, I won’t give up my protest. The Mods on this website are jerks, so I’ll protesting until they un-ban my previous usernames and apologize for their wrong doing. I will protest everyday until they make the peace…

Rules of the forum:

1. If you support any sort of view that is different than what the mods believe, you will be banned. Discussion is not open for different and new ideas. Even if Catholicism is making a mistake, we support tradition.
2. Everything the Catholic Church has ever done has been infallible. Therefore, there is no need for you to question anything about Catholicism, the Church is perfect. If the Church told you to kill someone, you should do it, no questions asked.
3. Any rude and ignorant comments to others stating “You are not a true Catholic if you voted for Obama” will be accepted and is encouraged.
4. God didn’t give you this conscience to use for yourself. You must substitute other peoples judgment for your own, and never question them, because their judgment is better.
5. If you child someday asks you if they should use a condom, you should tell them “No, let yourself get HIV instead.”
6. Stupidity and loss of common sense are encouraged.

I see that you are working hard to prove point #6!

Stupid is as stupid does!