Pope cancels salaries of cardinals overseeing bank

[onehandle]

Source: IANS

Vatican City, April 20 (IANS) In a further sign of his desire for a "poor church", Pope Francis has cancelled the annual stipend of 25,000 euros (around $33,000) paid to each of five cardinals who oversee the Vatican Bank. The Vatican Bank has come under fire in recent years for alleged money laundering, Italy's AKI news agency reported.

Last year, European regulators said the bank was not doing enough to combat money laundering.

The Holy See also hired a Swiss anti-money-laundering lawyer in its bid to enter a "white list" of states that are said to respect international standards on fighting money laundering and terrorism financing.

A major money-laundering scandal in 2011 led to the ouster of former Vatican Bank president Ettore Gotti Tedeschi by the bank's five-cardinal board in May last year.

Read more: http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/pope-cancels-salaries-cardinals-overseeing-bank-065150250.html

[Ed Suspicious]

1. I kind of like this pope's style.

[loudsue]

2. Me too. He seems like he didn't like all the crap that had become

his home (the church).

[DreamGypsy]

32. Better but still not good...

...recall the recent Nuns on the Bus denouncement: Pope Francis reaffirms Vatican censure of radical feminist nuns

He clearly rejoices in crap when it suits him.

[Paulie]

4. I was hopeful until he continued the policy against the US nuns

They are uppity feminists so need to be "reformed" by their overlords.

https://lcwr.org/media/news/lcwr-statement-meeting-cdf-0

The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith used to be called "The Inquisition"

http://www.google.com/m/search?q=us+nuns+vs+vatican

[Jackpine Radical]

7. I have great sympathy with what you're saying;

nevertheless, it sometimes not possible to advance on all fronts at once, and it is certainly unlikely that any Pope will be "good" on all the issues. This one appears to be reform-minded within a fairly large arc on financial and poverty issues. He may also be capable of spiritual growth. Better him than many of the potential alternatives.

[Cleita]

23. The order of nuns who taught me in high school ran afoul of Cardinal McIntyre of

the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and he had to back down. In other words, the nuns always win and look forward to the same happening here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisters_of_the_Immaculate_Heart_of_Mary

During the late 1960s, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council and its call for renewal of religious life, the IHM sisters took part in an experiment led by the psychologist Carl Rogers (associated with the nearby Esalen Institute) who was promoting the 'encounter group', or what Abraham Maslow had referred to as 'Psychology Three.' In such encounter groups, under the direction of a facilitator, participants were encouraged to unmask their real feelings as they interacted with the other group participants. The first trial was held in 1966. With its apparent success, the experiment was begun en masse in 1967, with all the sisters and the schools they ran in the Los Angeles Archdiocese participating. These experiments took place in a general environment where already many religious institutes of women elected to discard habits, organized community life, and most other attributes of an organized religious congregation and the encounter groups facilitated such changes in the IHMs.

James Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles insisted that if the IHM Sisters were to continue teaching in the schools of the archdiocese, they would have to maintain a number of rules he believed were essential to female community life. The sisters, in turn, objected to the Archbishop dictating their attire, bedtimes, and hours of prayer. [6][7] The Vatican congregation that oversaw religious life refused to intervene. Then-superior Anita Caspary remained firm in implementing the reform and, on February 1, 1970, roughly ninety percent followed Caspary and were dispensed from their vows.[7][8] They went on to form a non-canonical group that admits both men and women known as the Immaculate Heart Community. An ensuing property settlement left remaining IHMs with certain properties, while those exiting obtained control of Immaculate Heart College and Immaculate Heart High School. Virtually no IHMs remained in teaching positions in the archdiocese's vast parochial school system, forefront of the exodus of religious that was soon to affect the nation's entire Roman Catholic school system.

After failed attempts to resolve differences with those remaining in the rump congregation, a group relocated to the Diocese of Wichita in Kansas.[8] These IHM sisters remain active as does the small congregation in California.

Although I graduated in 1958 before these events happened, these nuns taught me that I had some worth as a woman and many talked about the day that religious women would be admitted to the priesthood and have full equality with the men. I still believe it might happen some day. Two of my friends from high school are still nuns in this order.

[BuddhaGirl]

41. Interesting story about the IHM nuns

Cardinal McIntyre - wow, haven't heard that name in years...I went to an L.A, diocese school until 1972, when we moved to Orange County, which then was still considered part of the L.A. Diocese.

Ugh, I remember our pastor was a mean s.o.b. and we were so frightened of him whenever he visited our classrooms.

[Tumbulu]

42. I share your vision here Cleita

I do believe that they will win in the end, and when they win, we all win.

[WinstonSmith4740]

16. Totally agree!

When I heard he came from a Jesuit order it gave me reason to be hopeful, and so far, so good. His beliefs regarding women are still 18th century, but one step at a time. Going after the Vatican Bank is a good place to start. I just hope someone's watching his back. The last pope to try this was John Paul I, and he only lasted a month.

[shenmue]

3. Another good step.

[Amonester]

5. Gee, he likes to take risks.

I think I might start praying for his health...

It's been a while since I prayed last!

[Jackpine Radical]

8. I've been having similar thoughts.

[AnneD]

29. Same here...

I am not Catholic but there are some Popes that I think of with great fondness: Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I.

Pope Francis has done much in a very short time. It is enough that he clean up the bank and get the Church back to its mission of being a servant to humanity (easing the suffering of the poor, teaching the ways of Christ, providing a moral example, etc).

I think that with some time and reflection, he will start the shift necessary to bring the Church into a more Christ like view on the role of women.

The current attitude was hundreds of years in forming and it will not disappear over night. Pope Francis seems to be a bright ray of sunshine.

[Sunlei]

6. surprised there even was a salary paid to priests of any type.

We should do the same here in the usa, no priest or even church person, a volunteer, a 'grass roots org., should have paid persons. Let the org cover their costs, food and shelter.

They should be working for their churches and 'non-profits, and 'charities'..political charities/non-profits- like tea party- out of the goodness of their hearts..not for a paycheck.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. I guess I would go in the opposite direction--

expand the priesthood to women, permit marriage (and divorce and birth control and…). You know, put less separation between them & their parishioners, not more. The way to humanize the church is by humanizing the clergy.

But then what do I know? I'm a Unitarian.

[Sunlei]

12. I think anyone who wants to be a priest should go for it, but not for the paycheck.

I think a lot of persons in 'churches' of all types and charities of all types, political non-profits included are only there for the massive money.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. There's a difference between a decent salary and "massive money."

Anyway, I don't see the priests rolling in the big bucks like the megachurch Fundies do.

[Sunlei]

22. yes, your're right. The tiny church and the billionare church w/ paid ceos use the same tax free law

perhaps we should have a tax-free cutoff limit on church size. Same for corporations...you get your tax free church but once you grow to 50 million plus a year in income, paychecks and building holdings..you pay taxes.

[DeadEyeDyck]

15. By definition, the opposite of Catholicism is humanism.

[caseymoz]

28. By definition? Really?

I put the definitions side by side and I don't see the opposition.

No, the opposition to humanism was declared by Pius the IX because the humanist, modernist Italian government took away his Papal States, the Vatican, and the Catholic Church's special standing in Italy. And the Church has been towing his line ever since.

Nothing definitional about that. It's as simple as that.

[DeadEyeDyck]

36. Would you regard humanism as people centric?

[caseymoz]

43. Not in terms of worship

Which is what the RCC and other Christians purport it to be.

Does Jesus command you to love your neighbor as yourself?

Does that not describe humanism?

Does God love human beings? Is that not Christian dogma? Arguably, God is a humanist then.

Are Christians supposed to follow God's example?

If you honestly don't believe in God because you don't think such a being could exist, Humanism is about as close as you can get to Christianity.

Read some of Roger Ebert's writing:

"I consider myself Catholic, lock, stock and barrel, with this technical loophole: I cannot believe in God. I refuse to call myself a atheist however, because that indicates too great a certainty about the unknowable. My beliefs were formed long ago from good-hearted Dominican sisters, and many better-qualified RCs might disagree . . ."

That also describes humanism, lock, stock and barrel.

To you, this would be the opposite of Catholicism. Really? That's the exact opposite? I don't know, my moral compass tells me Josef Stalin is closer the the 180 degree mark. He not only thought God impossible, but he sneered at the notion of loving his neighbor.

[greymattermom]

11. fund raising is hard work

Try walking 7 miles a day 5 days a week in all weather in Denver, and knocking on doors in all types of neighborhoods. My daughter does this for PBS. It pays and provides good health care.

[Heather MC]

18. My mother does it for the

Jehovah's Witnesses. LOL

[Sunlei]

26. It is hard work to raise funds for any charity. I think public broadcasting has huge value for all.

Love PBS

don't love so much that Orgs. like tea party get the same tax breaks and don't seem to do anything positive for all 'the people'. Especially when their 'Leadership' don't work for free or the love of their reason for existance.

[rpannier]

14. Unintended Consequences

There are places around the world where the priests do not get a salary or get very little (Bolivia is an example) The priests make their money doing special masses. Their salaries are essentially paid for by the wealthiest people (oligarchs) in those countries because they can afford to pony up for those special masses. So, many of the priests wind up closely aligned with the ultra-right. And when they do make bishop and cardinal they side with their friends.
That's what you get when you don't pay a decent wage

[Posteritatis]

33. Most clergy, typically, live someplace and eat things from time to time. (nt)

[xtraxritical]

44. Sure, why don't you "work out of the goodness of your heart"? These people have

to eat and buy gas just like the rest of us, 33k/yr is a pittance. You're very self-righteous.

[MBS]

10. good for him n/t

[Heather MC]

17. Oh boy he is not long for this world.

Messing with the money is a no no.

I hope he has a food taster

[firenewt]

34. Exactly what I was thinking. I fear an untimely death may be in the Pope's future.

[Loryn]

48. Thinking the same thing.

His food taster needs a food taster.

[CountAllVotes]

19. Good on you pope Francis I!!!

Smart move for pope Francis!

I'm glad to see this pope taking this type of action; well overdue!

[Duer 157099]

20. Way to set the scene for financial misconduct

One reason our Congresscritters are supposed to get a decent salary is to remove the incentive for them to seek money from other sources (lobbyists, legislation, etc). Not that it does, greed being what it is.

[broadcaster75201]

21. He gonna give the money to the poor? nt

nt

[adieu]

24. Didn't this occur as the plotline

for Godfather III? Didn't that pope die rather quickly after being chosen?

[AnneD]

30. Yes it did...

but due to the time it was released and the mysterious way of his death, and the news of the first Vatican Bank scandal, I always thought they were referring to Pope Paul I.

[ChromeFoundry]

25. Wow, I'm really liking this new pope. n/t

[bravenak]

27. Wow.

I am pleasantly surprised. I like that.
Now work on the sexual abuse. My stepdad was raped by a nun at 12. Sorry, wrong place.

This is a good first step.
Should have got him instead of the Dowager Pope last time.
If anybody can get something done, he can.

Pope Francis- kickin azz an takin paychecks away!

[patrice]

31. Holy shit! Pope Francis just threw the Church at what could be a proxy for Disaster Capitalism! nt

[citizen blues]

35. I won't believe this pope is any different until he

orders the church to start cooperating with authorities in the investigations of child sex abuse and opens up all church records on the matter. Until the church stops covering it up, stops blaming the victims and moves to ensure these priest are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and excommunicated,... rich or poor, the Catholic church will remain the corrupt, immoral farce it is today.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

37. I hope he's spending some money to hire tasters.

Cardinals have ways ...

[gejohnston]

38. what happened to the whole vow of poverty thing?

or does that stop as you move up the ranks?

[No Vested Interest]

40. Please read up on who takes the vow of poverty.

I'm sick of explaining it over & over.
Better not to comment when one doesn't know the facts.

[TygrBright]

39. The power in this gesture comes from the symbolism

The actual "stipends" are not large by the standards of international banking management. Nor do they mean much in terms of the Cardinals' lifestyles, per se.

The real thrust of this gesture comes from its avowed purpose: To re-frame the purpose and operating principals of the Vatican Bank. The bank is an old institution and has been many things over the years.

An international money-laundering facility is apparently not acceptable to Francis.

Good on him.

interestedly,
Bright

[Ken Burch]

45. Only problem is...won't that encourage them to accept bribes?

From what I understand, it's pretty easy to bury evidence of graft deep in the files of the Curia.

[markiv]

46. agreed, i've always thought that good salaries with draconican bribe

penalties were in everyone's best interest, and by far the cheapest, in reality

[freshwest]

47. It's symbolic; but needed. These cardinals have room, board, medical care and the rest above most;

a stipend likely isn't needed unless there is a tradition of them also supporting their birth families.

I wasn't aware any of them were paid but that they had means to live and do as they pleased in their professsion. Francis makes excellent sense and putting things back into balance.

He has much work to do in his time to overcome the past of a Church that appears to have lost its way several times in history.

Good for him.

[Hekate]

49. Long life to him! If the College of Cardinals wanted real change, they're getting it

Pope Francis is doing some real housecleaning.

[cap]

50. Sorry cant get enthusiastic about Pope

Read Argentinian papers about him. He was no shy violet with Kirchner administration. Kirchner admin is keeping quiet because they want him to mediate Falklands dispute. Also many of Kirchners supporters are catholic so she has to watch it. Only 10% go to mass in Argentina. Francis is not a popular guy back home.

A more telling sign is Francis appointing a member of the CDF (modern day Inquisition) as cardinal in Iowa, continuing Benedict's clique in the church.

Just white wash so the hierarchy doesn't have to change much.

BTW what about the secret dossier in Benedict's apartment

[midnight]

51. Hmmm maybe the U.S. can use this kind of enforcement here with our banks that make too much money to

prosecute...